Police refuse to register FIR against quack: Parents

Child died after being treated by illegal doc recently

 The family of a four-year-old girl, who had died after being allegedly treated by a quack at a clinic in west Delhi, said the police has refused to lodge an FIR in the case.

Janvi, 4, was taken to a clinic in Sainik Enclave, Mohan Garden, last month after she had started vomiting. However, she was treated by an illegal doctor at the clinic and died within minutes of being administered with an injection, the family had claimed.

The clinic was being run by Dharmendar Singh, who was not present at the spot at the time of the incident. The girl was reportedly given the injection by Singh’s wife. 

“We have made so many rounds to the police station since the incident but they have refused to lodge an FIR (first information report) in the case. Earlier, the police had said an FIR will be lodged after we complaint to the Delhi Medical Council. Now they are saying it would be lodged only after the post-mortem report arrives,” said Gajendar Kumar, the child’s uncle. The body has been sent for post-mortem at Sanjay Gandhi Memorial Hospital, he added.

“We have lost the child and now even justice is being denied to us,” said Kumar.
The family has also lodged an official complaint with the Delhi Medical Council (DMC) after the incident. Janvi’s father works as wage labourer in the Mohan Garden area. The family was unaware that the clinic is run by a quack.

Meanwhile, the DMC confirmed that the clinic was being run a quack.

“The verification process is complete. The clinic was being run by a quack. Neither the one running the clinic nor his wife is registered under the council. The police has been apprised to follow the course of law,” said Girish Tyagi, registrar of DMC.

Earlier, the police had said that an FIR can be lodged only after the DMC completes the verification process.

“The FIR can be lodged either on receival of the complaint from DMC or on the basis of the post-mortem report. In this case, the rules will be followed accordingly,” said a police official at Ranhola police station.

The delay in lodging the FIR shows why quackery is thriving in the rural belts of the city.
“According to the guidelines of the latest High Court order, the police is supposed to lodge an FIR within 24 hours of the verification process by DMC.

In this case, there is a complainant also. If the police is not registering an FIR, there should be immediate action,” said Dr Anil Bansal, chairperson of anti-quackery cell, DMC.