Chhattisgarh High Court Takes Suo Motu Cognizance Of Toddler's Death In Anganwadi Centre Due To 'Unlawfully' Dumped DJ Equipment

Against this backdrop, a Division Bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Bibhu Datta Guru stated,

“… the District Magistrate, Bilaspur, is directed to file a personal affidavit before this Court by the next date of hearing, clearly indicating the steps taken in respect of the aforesaid incident, the responsibility of the officials concerned, and the action proposed or initiated against those found at fault. The affidavit shall further disclose whether any compensation has been paid to the family of the deceased child, and if not, the stage at which such consideration presently stands, along with the measures being put in place to prevent recurrence of such incidents in Anganwadi Centres.”

The report revealed that the iron rod, dumped alongside other DJ equipment, fell upon the girl while she was playing. While she was initially taken to the District Hospital and later referred to CIMS, she succumbed to her injuries during the course of treatment.

The State argued that the DJ equipment was impermissibly placed in the Anganwadi premises by a relative of one of its employees, which became the proximate cause of the unfortunate accident and that necessary criminal proceedings have been instituted against the individual concerned.

The news report further revealed that the Women and Child Development Department and the local police, initially tried to suppress the matter and it was only after the receipt of the post-mortem report confirming head injury as the cause of death that an FIR was registered against the concerned DJ operator.

The matter is now listed for further hearing tomorrow (26.08.2025).

Case Details:

Case Number: WPPIL No. 17 of 2025

Case Title: In The Matter Of Suo Moto Public Interest Litigation v. The State Of Chhattisgarh

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