The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday held the Government authorities liable to pay Rs 1.8 lakh compensation to a woman who gave birth to a third child after tubectomy operation at a Government Hospital in Hassan district.

Savithri, wife of Swamy and a resident of Honnavalli village in Arakalagud taluk had a son and a daughter when she underwent the tubectomy procedure at Arakalagudu Government Hospital on September 1995.
But, she became pregnant again and delivered a female child on April 25, 1999 and had to again undergo tubectomy, a month later.

Aggrieved, she filed a suit in 2003 seeking compensation, since her family was forced to take up additional burden of a third child owing to failure of the family planning operation.

Holenarasipura taluk senior civil judge decreed her suit and passed an order on November 10, 2005 directing the Government and Medical Officer of Arakalagudu Government Hospital to pay Rs 1.5 lakh as damages. While Government moved the HC against civil judge’s order, Savithri also sought for enhancing the compensation awarded.

The HC directed the respondent Government authorities to pay a total sum of Rs 1.8 lakh to Savithri with six per cent interest from the date of filing suit and till realisation of the sum. 

The Court ordered that the amount be kept in a post office under monthly income scheme, till the third child attains majority; and that the monthly income be utilised for the education and other expenses of the third child.