CWC orders legal inquiry into Baby Falak’s death
New Delhi: A day after baby Falak died due to cardiac arrest in AIIMS, the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) came down heavily on the state government for its failure to put a child protection mechanism in place.
“There are lakhs of Falaks in our country who are waiting for immediate help,” observed the CWC.
Baby Falak was taken into the general ward after she showed signs of improvement. Screen grab from CNN-IBN
The Committee directed the authorities to hold inquest, a legal inquiry into the cause and circumstances of death, in the case.
Only after inquest proceedings are over, said the committee, post- mortem should be done and the dead body handed over to the mother of the child who has been living in Nari Niketan.
Till Friday, CWC had not received any report from police on action against the hospital authorities for allowing media access to Falak.
In an earlier order, the Committee had said that baby Falak’s medical condition had deteriorated due to unrestricted media access in the ICU where she was getting treated.
“The report from DCP South Delhi on the issue of investigation and action against responsible hospital authorities under section 23 is still awaited despite two reminders. In view of child’s death, it becomes a serious issue,” ruled the Committee.
Baby Falak, who was brought to AIIMS in a battered condition on 18 January, breathed her last on Thursday night. The two- year old girl had five surgeries and was often on the ventilator. Last week, doctors shifted her from ICU to normal children’s ward as her health had shown signs of improvement.
