A court in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, has sentenced a government surgeon to two years in prison in connection with the deaths of 12 women following botched sterilisation surgeries conducted at a camp in 2014.
Court Convicts Surgeon in 2014 Sterilisation Camp Deaths
The First District and Additional Sessions Judge Shailesh Kumar Ketarap on Tuesday found the surgeon guilty of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. According to Additional Public Prosecutor Devendra Rao Somawar, the court awarded a two-year jail term and imposed a fine of ₹25,000 for each of the 12 deaths.
Additional Sentences and Fines Imposed
Apart from the primary conviction, the court also handed down additional punishments under separate charges. These include six months’ imprisonment with a fine of ₹500 under one section, and one month’s jail with a fine of ₹100 under another. All sentences will run concurrently.
83 Surgeries Conducted in Just Three Hours
The case dates back to November 8, 2014, when a sterilisation camp was held at a private hospital in Pendari near Sakri village in Takhatpur block of Bilaspur district. A total of 83 women from nearby rural areas underwent sterilisation procedures at the camp.
According to the prosecution, the accused, then serving as a senior surgeon at the district hospital, conducted all 83 surgeries within a span of approximately three hours—raising serious concerns about medical negligence and safety protocols.
Women Fell Ill After Surgery, 12 Died
Soon after the procedures, several women developed complications and were admitted to different hospitals, including district hospital and CIMS in Bilaspur. Tragically, 12 women lost their lives.
The prosecution linked the deaths to alleged negligence during the surgeries, leading to septicaemia. There was also controversy surrounding contaminated post-operative medicines, which may have worsened the situation.
Pharma Firm Accused Acquitted Due to Lack of Evidence
During the investigation, police filed a chargesheet against the surgeon and five individuals associated with two pharmaceutical supply firms. However, the court acquitted all five accused linked to the drug companies, citing lack of sufficient evidence.
Bail Granted as Sentence Below Three Years
Since the sentence awarded is less than three years, the court granted bail to the convicted surgeon in accordance with legal provisions, the prosecutor confirmed.
This case had sparked nationwide outrage over the conditions and practices in mass sterilisation camps, highlighting the urgent need for stricter healthcare standards and accountability in public health initiatives.
