Haryana Human Rights Commission demands report on a newborn’s severed arm during delivery

The Haryana Human Rights Commission has taken a suo motu cognisance of an incident pertaining to a newborn, whose arm was completely severed during the delivery at a hospital in Nuh district. The Commission said the incident “constitutes a grave violation of the rights of the child as enshrined under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC)” and “undermines faith in public institutions”.

Seeking a detailed medical and factual report from the Civil Surgeon within a fortnight, the Commission, headed by Chairperson, Lalit Batra, has demanded to know the exact circumstances of the delivery, reasons for the severing of the limb, steps taken for the treatment and rehabilitation of the child.

“The right to safe childbirth and postnatal care is an integral part of the right to health, protected under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. The alleged severing of the newborn’s arm during delivery indicates prima facie a case of egregious medical negligence. The failure to ensure standard operative procedures, particularly in a government facility where patients rely upon public healthcare, not only endangers lives but undermines faith in public institutions,” observed the Commission, in its four-page order.

The incident took place on July 30, 2025, when the infant, Sarjeena, was admitted to Mandi Khera Civil Hospital for the delivery. “It is further alleged that instead of handling the matter with due responsibility and care, the attending doctors responded aggressively, used abusive language and forced the family out of the ward. The newborn was subsequently referred to Nalhar Hospital,” said the Commission, in its order, referring to a media report.

The three-member Commission, comprising members Kuldip Jain and Deep Bhatia, observed that Article 6 of the UNCRC affirmed that every child had the inherent right to life and State should ensure the maximum extent possible help for the survival and development of the child and the Article 19 obligated the State to protect children from all forms of physical or mental harm or neglect while in the care of any person, including medical professionals. “The permanent and irreversible injury inflicted upon the newborn during the birth represents a direct breach of these international obligations,” said the order, adding that it undermined “the child’s right to health, dignity and a life free from preventable harm”.