Jharkhand HC petition seeks ₹1 cr compensation for 5 kids infected with HIV after blood transfusion

In a deeply disturbing case that raises urgent questions about medical accountability, a writ petition has been filed before the Jharkhand High Court seeking ₹1 crore compensation each for five children allegedly infected with HIV through contaminated blood transfusions.

The incident dates back to October last year at a government blood bank in Chaibasa, West Singhbhum district. The children, aged between five and seven, were already suffering from Thalassemia Major , a serious genetic disorder that requires regular blood transfusions. What should have been life-saving treatment has now reportedly turned into a lifelong medical crisis.

Filed by advocate Mohammed Shadab Ansari, the petition highlights the families’ vulnerable background. Belonging to Scheduled Tribe and OBC communities, they depend on daily wage labour and live in modest conditions. The case, therefore, is not just about health, but also about financial hardship, emotional trauma, and deep social stigma .

The plea demands more than compensation. It calls for lifelong free medical care , including safe transfusions, Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART), continuous monitoring, nutritional support, and psychological counselling. It also seeks permanent housing and a special medical board to supervise treatment.

A serious allegation in the petition claims that one child may have been deliberately given infected blood by a staff member due to a personal grudge. While this claim is under investigation, it has intensified concerns over gross negligence and possible criminal intent .

The state government has announced ₹2 lakh compensation per child and suspended some officials. However, the petition terms this response “grossly inadequate” , citing the irreversible damage caused.

Referring to a 2023 judgment by the Supreme Court of India, the plea argues that the state is liable for “egregious medical negligence” under Article 21.

The High Court has sought a detailed report, stressing that those responsible must be held accountable as the children’s futures stand irreversibly impacted .