Notice to Chandigarh official after pregnant woman denied treatment

The rights panel has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report alleging that the woman gave birth while standing in a queue at a government hospital here July 21, an official statement said.

"Allegedly, the hospital authorities refused to admit her without the reports of certain tests. Even after the delivery, she was not given proper medical care and, as a result, the child died immediately after the birth," it said.

The commission in its proceedings in the matter July 26 observed that the contents of the media report, if true, raise the serious issue of violation of human rights. It has sought a report in the matter within four weeks.