Zeenews Bureau
New Delhi: The Rajasthan High Court has taken suo moto cognizance of the shocking case of an eight-day old baby girl, who has been abandoned in Jodhpur`s Umaid Hospital, reports claimed on Tuesday.
Terming this as a "serious incident" and a terrible example of gender bias, the court has directed the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Jodhpur to ensure adequate protection for the girl child.
The matter came to light after a bitter fight erupted between two couples over their claims for a boy who was also born on the same night.
As the story goes, Poonam Kanwar delivered her child at the Umaid Hospital few days back and the mid-wives, reportedly eager for a tip, told her that she had given birth to a son.
They even brought her a baby boy to hold in her arms, and collected their reward.
However two hours later, the hospital staff told Poonam and her family that the boy they had embraced was actually born to another woman in the same hospital.
The staffers then gave Poonam the girl saying she was born to her.
After the hospital authorities handed over the boy to Reshmi Devi, wife of Sagar Ram, Poonam’s husband Chain Singh and his family members created a ruckus and claimed that the boy belongs to them and rejected the girl.
Alarmed at the situation, the hospital appointed a committee look into the matter and prima-facie found that the boy belongs to Reshmi and the girl belongs to Poonam Kanwar.
Matching of blood samples also made it clear that the girl belonged to Poonam. However, they were not satisfied so the hospital administration decided to go in for a DNA test.
Meanwhile, Chain Singh filed a complaint with Khanda Phalsa Police Station against the hospital administration seeking inquiry into the matter on March 26.
"It`s the fault of the hospital staff which has caused all this confusion," says Poonam Devi`s husband, Chain Singh.
Amidst the dispute, the real loser has been the poor girl, who lies abandoned on the hospital bed.
The girl is currently under the supervision of the nursery unit of the Ummed hospital. She is even deprived of breastfeeding which is important for her healthy development.
The hospital administration is not ready to allow one of the mothers to breastfeed without taking an undertaking from them that the girl belongs to them and they would take responsibility.
Meanwhile, the court has sought a progress report from the CJM on April 20 and has appointed advocate Raj Lakshmi Choudhary as the girl`s amicus curie.
