The Allahabad High Court has mandated a judicial investigation to ascertain whether the death of Advocate Jagrati Shukla was a result of medical negligence at Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital in Prayagraj. This directive follows the case Amit Kumar Singh @ Sonu Singh and another v State of UP and 9 Others. A Division Bench comprising Justice Salil Kumar Rai and Justice Swarupama Chaturvedi has appointed retired High Court Judge, Justice Arun Tandon, to examine the circumstances surrounding Shukla’s death and a related altercation between doctors and advocates at the hospital.
The Court has emphasized the need for an unbiased inquiry due to rising tensions between the medical and legal communities in Prayagraj. The judges instructed that the investigation be concluded promptly, aiming for a completion date of September 30, 2026. The findings are to be submitted in a sealed report.
Concerns about the quality of medical care at Swaroop Rani Nehru Hospital were highlighted by the Court, which suggested that Advocate Shukla may not have received adequate treatment, and the advocates accompanying her were reportedly mistreated by hospital personnel. The incident has inflamed a broader dispute between doctors and advocates, necessitating a fair and thorough examination.
On May 20, Shukla suffered severe injuries from a road accident while en route to the Allahabad High Court Cricket Ground. She was transported to the hospital by fellow advocates, including several female lawyers. Allegations have surfaced that the on-duty emergency medical officer was asleep and did not attend to Shukla, and that hospital staff acted inappropriately, resulting in a confrontation with the advocates. This altercation led to a criminal complaint filed by the lawyers.
Shukla tragically passed away at a Lucknow hospital on June 7, intensifying the dispute between the legal and medical factions. Advocates have organized protests demanding an impartial probe, while hospital doctors initiated a strike.
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The Allahabad High Court underscored that obstructing citizens’ free movement or denying medical services in government hospitals constitutes a criminal offense. The judicial intervention came in response to a petition from the Vice President and Secretary of the High Court Bar Association, Allahabad. The Court has tasked the police with updating Justice Tandon on the ongoing investigation and has temporarily halted arrests related to the lawyers’ complaint.
The Bench stated, “We consider that it is not a case where a custodial interrogation would be required in any case. We are also mindful of the fact that the accused are medical professionals.” The Court also instructed law enforcement to address any traffic disruptions caused by the lawyers and ordered an end to the doctors’ strike.
In concluding remarks, the Court noted, “The dispute may be between two professional groups or two individuals, but it cannot be made a cause to deprive the general people and the common man of their right to free movement or for medical aid in Government Hospitals.” The state was represented by Additional Advocate General MC Chaturvedi and Chief Standing Counsel Manoj Singh.
