More than 14 months after an FIR was registered in connection with the death of 74-year-old Amarjeet Kaur, the Chandigarh Police are yet to file a chargesheet in court, prompting the bereaved family to seek the UT Administration’s intervention.
The FIR was lodged on December 18, 2024, at Sector 34 police station against two doctors of Landmark Hospital, Sector 33, under Section 304-A of the IPC for causing death due to negligence.
Concerned over the delay, Amarjeet’s son Sukhvinder Pal Sodhi recently met Chandigarh Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria and apprised him of the matter. Following the meeting, Kataria reportedly directed the SSP to expedite the probe and submit a status report at the earliest.
SHO Inspector Satinder Kumar stated that the medical board’s report prepared under the chairmanship of the Director-Principal of Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, had certain shortcomings. The police have written to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) for further examination and an expert opinion.
Questioning the need for a second review, Sodhi said if deficiencies existed in the earlier report, the family should have been informed.
According to the family, Amarjeet Kaur was admitted to the hospital on March 16, 2024, after she fractured her femur. They said they had specifically requested doctors to use a high-quality implant compatible with MRI scans. The family alleged that after surgery she was discharged on March 18 without adequate post-operative monitoring. On April 3, she returned to the hospital complaining of confusion and weakness. Tests reportedly revealed critically low sodium levels, but she was allegedly not admitted and was sent home with medication.
Her condition deteriorated the following day and she was rushed to GMCH. The doctors reportedly sought documentary proof regarding the MRI compatibility of the implant. The family claimed that Landmark Hospital failed to provide written confirmation. Amarjeet Kaur died 12 days later.
Following the complaint, a UT Medical Board constituted under the GMCH Director-Principal examined the case and reportedly found the hospital negligent. Acting on the legal opinion based on the board’s findings, the police registered the case on December 18.