Chhattisgarh High Court takes suo motu cognizance of security guard administering injection in district hospital

The Chhattisgarh High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of a news report published in a Hindi daily regarding an incident at the District Hospital, Gariyaband, where a female security guard was allegedly found administering an injection to a patient in place of a staff nurse.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru observed that the incident raises grave concerns about “the very functioning, supervision, and integrity of the District Hospital.” The Court remarked:

“The spectacle of a security guard administering an injection in place of a trained nurse is not only a clear breach of medical ethics and professional standards, but also a stark reflection of systemic failure in ensuring accountability and adherence to established protocols of patient care. Such a lapse imperils the trust of the public in government medical institutions and undermines the safety of patients who seek treatment therein.”

The incident came to light when a former Municipal Councillor captured the alleged act on camera and circulated the photograph, which subsequently went viral. The news report further indicated that the District Collector, after taking cognizance of the matter, had issued show-cause notices to the Chief Medical and Health Officer as well as the Civil Surgeon, warning them of disciplinary action.

The Division Bench, however, held that issuance of notices alone was insufficient. “The issuance of notices, by itself, cannot be regarded as an adequate response, unless it is accompanied by tangible and effective remedial measures aimed at strengthening institutional monitoring, fixing responsibility upon delinquent officials, and putting in place mechanisms that categorically prevent recurrence of such incidents in future,” the Court noted.

Accordingly, the Bench directed the District Magistrate to file a personal affidavit outlining the steps taken in consequence of the show-cause notices and detailing preventive measures instituted to avoid a recurrence of such lapses in the hospital.

The matter has been listed for further hearing on August 28, 2025.