Cuttack: The Central Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC) has ordered a probe into the reported untraced whereabouts of 14 newborns delivered at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack over the past six years.
Acting on concerns raised over discrepancies in hospital records, the RDC has directed the Superintendent of SCB Medical College and Hospital to conduct a detailed inquiry into the matter and submit a comprehensive report for further legal action.
According to reports, the issue pertains to 14 children born in the Obstetrics and Gynaecology (OB-GYN) department of the hospital over the last six years, whose subsequent records or custody details could not be traced. The RDC has also instructed a thorough examination of hospital records and the procedures followed in such cases to identify possible lapses in protocol.
Women in vulnerable conditions, including those who are mentally challenged or destitute, are often admitted to the OB-GYN department through social workers. After delivery, standard protocol requires that newborns be handed over to childcare institutions through coordination between the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and the District Child Protection Officer (DCPO), reports said.
However, an RTI activist alleged that the newborns were instead handed over to those who brought the women for medical treatment.
