The father of a four-year-old girl who died after an alleged sexual assault in Ghaziabad has accused two private hospitals of refusing to provide emergency treatment, claiming that his daughter remained alive for nearly two hours after she was found and might have survived had medical care been provided promptly. The case has now drawn the attention of the Supreme Court, which has questioned the hospitals about compensation and accountability.
The incident occurred on March 16 in Ghaziabad’s Nandgram area. According to the family, the child had been playing outside her home when she went missing in the evening. After an extensive search by relatives and neighbours, she was found several hours later in a severely injured condition in a secluded area not far from her residence.
The girl’s father said he immediately rushed her to a nearby private hospital, Khajan Singh Manvi Health Care, where he claims doctors declined to treat her, citing inadequate facilities. He alleged that despite repeated pleas, the hospital neither examined the child nor arranged an ambulance for her transfer. The family then took her to St Joseph Hospital, where, according to the father, staff allegedly refused treatment on the grounds that it was a medico-legal case and directed them to a government hospital instead.
By the time the family reached the government-run MMG Hospital, the child was declared dead. The father maintains that the delay caused by the refusal of treatment at the two private hospitals contributed significantly to her death. He said the experience shattered his faith in the healthcare system and that accountability was more important than financial compensation.
A postmortem examination reportedly revealed multiple injuries on the child’s body, including head injuries, signs of strangulation, bite marks, and genital injuries. The case triggered widespread outrage and led to legal proceedings before the Supreme Court.
A Special Investigation Team appointed by the apex court examined the allegations and reportedly found merit in the claim that the private hospitals failed to provide timely treatment. During a recent hearing, the Supreme Court questioned one of the hospitals about whether it would voluntarily compensate the parents, warning that the court would determine compensation if negligence was established.
Child rights activist Shara Ashraf Prayag, who assisted the family in approaching the Supreme Court, said hospitals are legally obligated to provide emergency medical care regardless of medico-legal considerations. She alleged that the failure to administer even basic first aid deprived the child of a chance of survival.
St Joseph Hospital has denied refusing treatment. A spokesperson stated that the child was brought to the emergency department and that staff had initiated assessment procedures while doctors were being called. According to the hospital, the attendants chose to transfer the child elsewhere before treatment could begin. The hospital also suggested that the lack of ambulance support and medical supervision during the transfer may have worsened her condition. Representatives of the other hospital did not publicly respond to the allegations.
The Supreme Court also expressed concern over the conduct of local police. In its observations, the court noted allegations that the child’s parents were mistreated by police officers when they attempted to report the crime, further deepening their trauma.
Police later arrested the accused, a neighbour of the child, and filed a chargesheet under provisions relating to murder, destruction of evidence, the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, and the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The investigation remains ongoing.
The case has reignited debate over emergency medical obligations, hospital accountability, and the treatment of victims and their families during serious criminal investigations. The Supreme Court is expected to continue monitoring the matter as proceedings move forward.
