The Bihar Health Department has suspended three doctors, including the Deputy Superintendent of Jamui Sadar Hospital, for allegedly concealing crucial details in a post-mortem report related to a custodial death case that occurred in 2020.
Suspension Ordered After NHRC Direction
The action was taken following directions from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which reviewed the case and ordered strict disciplinary action against the medical team accused of altering or omitting key findings in the autopsy report.
The suspension order was issued on March 10, 2026, under the provisions of the Bihar Government Servants (Classification, Control and Appeal) Rules, 2005. The directive was signed by Under Secretary Upendra Ram after receiving approval from the competent authority.
Case Linked to 2020 Custodial Death in Jamui
The case pertains to the death of Sidhu Koda, also known as Munshi Da, a resident of Nehaldih village in the Chakai area of Jamui district in Bihar.
Koda died in police custody on February 22, 2020. Later allegations surfaced claiming that the medical team conducting the autopsy deliberately left out critical details during the post-mortem examination.
Judicial Inquiry Finds Major Discrepancies
The issue gained attention after a magistrate ordered a judicial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death and the preparation of the post-mortem report.
The inquiry reportedly found multiple discrepancies between the physical condition of the body and what was documented in the official autopsy report. According to the findings, blood was seen coming from the victim’s nose, ears, and mouth, and several cut marks were present on the body. However, these observations were allegedly not mentioned in the final report prepared by the doctors.
Violations of Standard Autopsy Procedure
The judicial inquiry also pointed out procedural lapses during the autopsy. It noted that no independent external witness was documented during the examination process, which is a standard requirement in sensitive cases such as custodial deaths.
Additionally, the exact cause of death was reportedly not clearly specified in the post-mortem report, raising serious concerns about the transparency and accuracy of the medical examination.
Doctors Suspended Pending Departmental Inquiry
Taking serious note of the findings, the NHRC directed the state authorities to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the medical officers involved.
Following this, the Bihar Health Department suspended the Deputy Superintendent and two medical officers posted at Jamui Sadar Hospital.
During the suspension period, their headquarters will remain at the Health Department office in Patna, and they will receive subsistence allowance in accordance with service rules.
Officials stated that the suspension is an interim measure, and a detailed departmental inquiry will now be conducted to examine the allegations and determine further action against the doctors.
