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Deaths of 25 Baiga Tribe Children in Balaghat: MP High Court Seeks 's Reply
The has directed the to file a formal reply after allowing amendments to a concerning the deaths of 25 children from the particularly vulnerable Baiga tribe in Balaghat district. The division bench of Acting Chief Justice Vivek Rusia and Justice Pradeep Mittal issued the order on , noting that the petitioner had personally visited the affected villages as previously directed.
A Grim Toll in Remote Balaghat Villages
The PIL, filed by , highlighted the deaths of children from the Baiga community in the remote Birsa and Baihar blocks of Balaghat. According to the petition, the children succumbed to a range of ailments including measles, falciparum malaria, severe malnutrition, and other infectious diseases. The petition alleged that the nearest primary healthcare centres were 15 to 40 kilometers away, forcing families to rely on traditional healers or unqualified practitioners. While the initially attributed eight deaths since June 2026 to seasonal illnesses, the petitioner argued that the government's temporary medical camps were insufficient to address the severe deficits in nutrition, sanitation, drinking water, and healthcare access.
Court's Directive: A Firsthand Account
Earlier, on
, the bench had expressed the view that allegations in a PIL could not be adjudicated upon unless based on
of the petitioner. Consequently, Mr. Tiwari was directed to personally visit the affected area and file an
. On Wednesday, the court noted compliance:
"In compliance of order dated
, the petitioner personally visited the place and collected various information, which are reflected in his
dated
."
The court then allowed the petitioner to amend the
to incorporate the fresh facts so that the respondents could be called upon to submit their reply.
State's Data and the Path Ahead
The High Court also took note that the respondents have uploaded a daily survey report into the Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system. The bench directed the State to bring those documents on record by way of a formal reply. The order read:
"Let all these facts be brought on record in the
by way of
, so that the respondents can be called upon to submit their reply."
The court further stated:
"The respondents have uploaded the daily survey report in the ERP. Let respondents also brought those documents on record by way of reply."
The case now moves to the next stage, where the must file its response addressing the ground realities documented by the petitioner. The court's proactive approach underscores the to protect vulnerable tribal children from preventable diseases, and the outcome of this PIL could have implications for healthcare delivery in remote tribal areas across Madhya Pradesh.
