Delhi High Court Demands Joint Report on Doctor Qualifications in Child Treatment Case

The Delhi High Court has given the National Medical Commission and the Delhi government's Directorate General of Health Services two weeks to submit a joint inquiry report on the medical qualifications of two doctors. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna passed this order on October 30 while hearing a contempt petition filed by the child's mother, Sapna Jain, on behalf of her minor son. According to the petition, the child suffered severe brain damage after being mishandled by two unqualified doctors misrepresenting themselves as super-specialists in the Neonatal ICU of Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh. The petition claims that the child is now in a permanent vegetative state and suffers from West Syndrome, epilepsy and cerebral palsy, while continuing to experience severe pain and suffering. In March 2025, the High Court called for affidavits clarifying whether the qualifications claimed by the two doctors entitled them to undertake specialisation practice in India. In May 2026, the court further directed the NMC Secretary and the DGHS to conduct a joint inquiry into the doctors' qualifications and submit a report within eight weeks. However, the fresh contempt petition alleged that the deadline of July 24, 2026, passed without the authorities submitting the report or seeking an extension from the court. The plea stated that the NMC and DGHS failed to discharge their joint duty, raising serious questions regarding their fairness and credibility.

Context

Medical regulators like the National Medical Commission and health directorates are responsible for checking doctor credentials and protecting patient safety. Courts intervene through petitions when statutory bodies fail to meet court-ordered deadlines in cases involving public health concerns.