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Transfers Anti-Malaria Death Probe to After
The has taken of the death of a seven-year-old girl and the hospitalisation of dozens of villagers in Andhra Pradesh's Polavaram district following the administration of chloroquine tablets during an anti-malaria drive. The Apex Court, in a brief order on , transferred the proceedings to the , directing its Chief Justice to monitor the investigation on a priority basis. A Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana acted on a letter written by petitioner Nallapu Manideep, which cited a news report about the tragedy.
A Letter That Moved the Court
The case originated from a letter dated , addressed to the Chief Justice of India. The letter detailed that on , health workers from the administered chloroquine tablets to 71 residents of Gollaguppa village as a preventive measure after five malaria cases were detected. Shortly afterwards, 52 villagers, mostly children, fell ill and were admitted to hospital. Among them was Madivi Jamuna, a seven-year-old Koya tribal girl who died hours after taking the tablet. Twenty-three other children were shifted to Bhadrachalam in Telangana for treatment. All others eventually recovered and were discharged.
State Confirms Registration of FIR
Appearing for the , informed the Court that authorities had already registered a criminal case in connection with the incident. He submitted that the viscera report was still awaited and that the investigation was ongoing. The Court, however, felt that the seriousness of the matter required continued .
Why the High Court, Not the
The Bench acknowledged the gravity of the allegations, noting that
"administration of chloroquine tablets during an anti-malaria drive may have allegedly led to the unfortunate death of the girl child and hospitalisation of several others."
While the Court concluded that the matter
"warrants
until the ongoing investigation is taken to its logical conclusion,"
it decided that the appropriate forum for such monitoring would be the
, being closer to the investigating agency and the affected community.
Key Observations from the Bench
The Court recorded:
"It seems to us that the matter warrants
until the ongoing investigation is taken to its logical conclusion. We are, however, of the view that
would be the appropriate forum to monitor the investigation and any consequential proceedings."
Clear Direction for Monitoring
The disposed of the but transferred the proceedings to the with a specific request to the Chief Justice to take up the matter on a priority basis. The order leaves the underlying questions—what caused the girl's death, whether the chloroquine batch was defective, and who may be held liable—entirely to the ongoing investigation and the High Court's supervision. The order carries no reflection on the merits of any potential accusations, and the applies to all persons concerned.
Implications for Public Health Programmes
The swift judicial response serves as a reminder that mass drug administration drives can attract intense judicial scrutiny when adverse events occur. The High Court's monitoring will likely focus on ensuring a thorough and transparent investigation, including proper analysis of the viscera report and the medicine batch. The outcome may influence future protocols for administering preventive medications in rural and tribal areas across India.
