Latest news with #TelanganaHumanRightsCommission
The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
Illegal surrogacy racket: Telangana Human Rights Commission takes suo moto cognisance
The Telangana Human Rights Commission (THRC) has taken suo motu cognisance of media reports highlighting illegal surrogacy, baby-selling, and unauthorised medical practices at Universal Srushti Fertility Centre, Secunderabad, and its affiliated branches in Hyderabad, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam. The Commission, chaired by Justice Shameem Akther, noted that the reports published in newspapers on July 27 and 28 point to serious violations of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Act and other healthcare laws. The news articles also allege that an unauthorised sperm collection racket was being run under the name of Indian Sperm Tech Clinic. The Commission directed the Principal Secretary of the Health, Medical and Family Welfare Department, Government of Telangana, to submit a comprehensive report by 11 a.m. on August 28, 2025. 'These activities were reportedly carried out under the leadership of Dr Athaluri Namrata, proprietor of Universal Srushti Fertility Centre, in collaboration with her son Jayant Krishna and others. The reports mention that unethical medical procedures were being conducted, including the illegal use of surrogate mothers and sale of infants to couples, amounting to clear breaches of legal and ethical norms,' said their statement. The report sought by the commission must include details of the action taken so far, the status of any prior complaints or FIRs, a list of affected individuals (both donors and recipients), involvement of public officials if any, and information on preventive measures and the current monitoring mechanism.
Hans India
19-07-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
TG Human Rights Commission disposing cases on fast track: Justice Shameem Akhtar
There are always two sides to a dispute, with allegations and counter-allegations. We cannot accept anything at face value. Our job is to detect the mischief and deliver justice. I am for alternative dispute resolutions: Justice Akhtar In a remarkable development that augurs well as regards delivery of justice, the Telangana Human Rights Commission (TGHRC) hit a new peak by disposing of more than 2,800 cases in less than two months, which translates to an average of clearing over 1,000 cases a month. A credit for putting in place a workable and achievable speedy disposal system goes to Justice Dr. Shameem Akhtar, who achieved this distinction since taking over as the Commission's Chairman on April 17. Not surprisingly, he inherited a backlog of around 11,500 pending cases. These included a wide range of human rights issues such as civil disputes, matrimonial conflicts, domestic violence, and criminal cases, among others, all falling under Section 21D of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. In a chat with the writer, Justice Akhtar emphasized the Commission's commitment to treating every complaint with equal seriousness. There would be no discrimination or prioritization, whatsoever. 'Every case is important. Irrespective of whether it is a dispute over one rupee or a crore, we will view and address them with the same lens of justice, which is what matters at the end of the day. Judges must build a reputation that prevents external interference in order to ensure that the judicial process remains just and fair,' is his governing yardstick, which sounds pragmatic and helps build public trust. Incidentally his roots are equally illustrious. His father the late Jaan Mohammed served as the superintendent of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, while mother Raheemunnisa is a literature enthusiast. In a way, coming from a family of advocates, the legal spark in him was ignited while he was quite young. 'For nearly 100 years, there have been more than a handful of lawyers from my maternal side,' he points out with a sense of professional pride. Incidentally, Justice Akhtar had an affinity for social and political activism from an early age but chose law as his profession given that he was naturally drawn to it. 'I would wake up early and read law magazines and make notes,' he recalls of his growing up years, a passion that has propelled his career to the zenith. His career-graph shows a steady rise right from the time he enrolled himself in the Nalgonda Bar in 1986. He served with distinction as a district judge to eventually rise to the stature of judge of the Telangana High Court. He served as the registrar of AP High Court for nearly five years. Notably, Justice Akhtar led a one-man commission that was constituted by the Telangana state government on Scheduled Caste sub-classification. With a legal career spanning over 16 years as an advocate and six years on the bench, Justice Akhtar is no stranger to rigorous workload. An indication of the dexterity with which he handles cases is evidenced by the fact that he has delivered judgments in over 18,000 cases and an equal number of interim applications. Justice Akhtar points out that while the Commission is prioritising older cases, new cases are being taken up simultaneously to maintain the momentum. 'Nearly 70 to 80 new complaints are registered with us every week. However, we are disposing of thrice that number to ensure that we reduce the backlog efficiently,' he points out, while stressing on striking a balance between pending and new cases. The Commission's recent push is not merely a matter of numbers. According to the Chairman, the real challenge lies in carefully examining each case to unravel the truth. 'Like a coin, there are always two sides to a dispute, comprising allegations and counter-allegations. We cannot accept anything at face value. Our job is to detect the mischief and deliver justice,' he maintains. Justice Akhtar also stressed the importance of alternative dispute resolution. 'My advice to most people is to settle disputes amicably outside the court, whenever possible. It saves time, money, energy, and shields individuals from complex legal entanglements,' he notes. (The writer is a software engineer and journalist, best known for his book 'The Kohinoors: Distinguished Personalities of Hyderabad')
New Indian Express
18-07-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
11 years after being given an expired vax, six victims to get Rs 1.25L compensation in Telangana
HYDERABAD: The Telangana Human Rights Commission (TGHRC) has directed the state government to pay compensation of Rs 1,25,000 each to six individuals who were administered expired Hepatitis-B vaccines at Gandhi Hospital in 2014. Terming the incident a serious violation of the victims' fundamental right to health and dignity, the commission chaired by Dr Justice Shameem Akther pointed to systemic lapses and recommended action against the responsible officials, including the superintendent of the hospital. The complaint was filed in 2014 against Gandhi Hospital, alleging that expired Elovac-B Hepatitis-B vaccines were administered to them by Dr V Tara Devi, who was a research fellow at the time. The complainants alleged that the expired vaccines caused side effects such as mental tension, giddiness, drowsiness, stomach pain, and body aches. The Commission had instructed the superintendent of Gandhi Hospital to submit a report which stated that the vaccine pack carried two different dates, one for expiry and another for the syringe and due to this oversight, Dr Tara Devi administered the expired vaccine. Further, the hospital denied negligence on the part of the doctor and attributed the confusion to the manufacturer, who had printed two different dates on the packaging. They also claimed that the expired vaccine was of low potency and unlikely to cause side effects. The Commission also directed the Deputy Commissioner of Police to inspect the drugs at the hospital. Later, Dr Tara Devi was suspended by the hospital administration. However, the Commission found the Superintendent's report unsatisfactory, noting that it failed to adequately address the issue of administering expired vaccines. It stated that the explanation of oversight in such a sensitive matter was unacceptable, especially as it involved patient safety. The Commission also criticised the attempt to shift responsibility to the manufacturer and dealer without addressing the hospital's accountability. It further noted that suspending Dr Tara Devi did not absolve the institution from the responsibility of providing adequate compensation to the affected individuals. The Commission directed that all recommendations be implemented within two months.
The Hindu
17-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
State told to pay ₹1.25 lakh compensation to patients administered expired Hepatitis-B vaccines
Over a decade after many patients were administered expired Hepatitis-B vaccines at government-run Gandhi Hospital, the Telangana Human Rights Commission (THRC) has ordered the State government to pay ₹1.25 lakh in compensation to each of the victims. The Commission, in its order dated July 4, also called for strict action against hospital authorities and a complete overhaul of medicine procurement and verification protocols in government hospitals. The incident, which came to light through complaints filed in 2014 and 2015, involved 16 individuals who suffered adverse effects after being given expired vaccines at the hospital's Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART) Centre of Excellence. The complainants alleged that Dr. V. Tara Devi, a Research Fellow at the centre, administered the vaccines despite their expiry, leading to dizziness, stomach pain, drowsiness, and significant mental distress. The THRC also took suo motu cognisance of a newspaper report published in 2015, which revealed irregularities in the hospital's medicine supply system. Its investigation found that the vaccines were indeed expired, and that the packaging displayed two conflicting expiry dates, one for the vaccine and another for the syringe. While hospital authorities claimed the administration was unintentional and blamed the manufacturer for the unclear labelling, the Commission rejected the explanation, holding the hospital accountable for failing in its basic and non-negotiable duty to verify expiry dates before drug administration. The Commission found the hospital superintendent's report defending the act to be motivated by a desire to shield the hospital staff. It also dismissed the claim that the expired vaccines had low potency and were therefore harmless, calling it medically unfounded. Justice Shameem Akther, Chairperson of the THRC, held that the victims' fundamental rights to health, dignity, and bodily integrity were violated. He noted that although Dr. Tara Devi had been suspended, disciplinary action alone was not sufficient to address the seriousness of the breach. The Commission directed the Chief Secretary of Telangana to initiate proceedings against all responsible officials, including the hospital's Superintendent and supervising staff. It further asked the government to ensure that expired or nearly expired drugs are not accepted at any government-run healthcare facility. Suppliers must be made to print clear and prominent expiry dates on both the outer wrapper and internal containers of all medical supplies. The State government has been given two months from the date of the order to implement the recommendations in full.
