In a landmark judgment dated September 9, 2025, the Supreme Court of India set aside orders from the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (SCDRC) and National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) in the case of Deep Nursing Home and Dr. Kanwarjit Kochhar vs. Manmeet Singh Mattewal and others (Civil Appeal No. 1662 of 2016). The case stemmed from the tragic deaths of Charanpreet Kaur and her newborn son in December 2005 due to post-partum hemorrhage (PPH) at Deep Nursing Home in Chandigarh.
The SCDRC had ruled in 2007 that the nursing home and Dr. Kochhar were negligent for inadequate post-delivery care, awarding Rs. 20.26 lakh in compensation. The NCDRC upheld this in 2012 but shifted full liability to Dr. Kochhar, citing antenatal care lapses. However, the Supreme Court, in a bench led by Justice Sanjay Kumar, found no evidence of negligence. It noted that multiple medical boards cleared the doctor and nursing home, emphasizing that not every treatment failure implies negligence. The Court criticized the NCDRC for building a new case beyond the complainant’s pleadings.
The appeal was allowed, dismissing the complaint. Manmeet Singh Mattewal must refund Rs. 10 lakh received during litigation in monthly installments: Rs. 3 lakh to New India Assurance Company Ltd. and Rs. 7 lakh to Dr. Kochhar and Dr. GS Kochhar. Parties bear their own costs. This ruling reinforces protections for medical professionals against unsubstantiated claims.