Overview
- The court called the situation horrific and said the state’s approach to public health was extremely casual.
- Petitioners told the court that 65 infants aged zero to six months have died since June in Melghat, a figure the bench noted on record.
- The state government attributed the recent deaths to pneumonia, disputing claims that malnutrition was the primary cause.
- Principal secretaries for public health, tribal affairs, women and child development, and finance must file affidavits and appear on November 24.
- Judges flagged non-functional facilities, medicine shortages, poor roads, and a lack of doctors, and suggested higher pay to attract medical staff to tribal postings.