High Court issues notice to govt on Italian tourist death

A division bench of Justices Indrajit Mahanty and Raghuvir Dash asked the chief Secretary, health secretary, RDC of Central Division, Cuttack Collector and the Superintendent of the SCB Medical College and Hospital to file counters within two weeks.

The bench also asked RDC Arvind Padhee to submit the report of the Cuttack collector in two days in a sealed cover to the court.

The RDC had ordered Collector Girish S N to conduct an administrative inquiry following reports that the foreign tourist Sebastian Rosario Contiguglia died because of medical negligence.

The PIL was filed by lawyer Prabir Kumar Das seeking an independent inquiry into the death of the foreigner.

The petitioner alleged the foreigner was not given a dedicated attendant in the hospital and had allegedly fallen from the hospital bed, as a result of which his condition had deteriorated.

The National Human Rights Commission too had taken cognizance of the matter when a social organization of Puri had sought compensation for the family of the Italian.