Mr. J.N. Srinivasa Murthy, Member—This complaint is filed on 15.12.1997 by the complainants Shri B.S. Krishna Kumar, his wife Smt. B. Lalitha, Smt. Laxmi, w/o Ashok Kumar and Kum. B. Sarika, d/o B. Ashok Kumar, against Manipal Hospital, doctors N.K. Venkataramana, S.N. Simha, Vamadeva Rao, Praveen Kumar Sharan, working in O.P. 1 Hospital, praying for awarding compensation of Rs. 19.00 lakh, and for a direction to O.Ps. 1 to 6 to pay it with interest @ 18% p.a. from the date of filing the complaint till payment date.

2. The brief facts are that Ashok Kumar, son of complainants 1 and 2, and husband of complainant No. 3, and father of complainant No. 4, was running footwear business in Vijayawada, and on 24.12.1995 at about 6.00 p.m. in Madanapalli, he sustained bullet shot injuries to his abdomen/left lower chest in police firing, where he had gone on business. He was initially treated at Community Hospital, and discharged at 7.30 p.m. He was taken to O.P. 1 Hospital on the same day at 10.30 p.m. and admitted for treatment, on 26.12.1995, he was operated by Neuro Surgeon to remove the bullet, which was said to have been lodged adjacent to L1-L2 Spine. Patient developed features o