Supreme Court asks two hospitals to pay ₹12 lakh to father of deceased child rape victim

The Supreme Court on August 7, 2026, instructed two Ghaziabad hospitals to pay ₹12 lakh each to the family of a four-year-old rape victim who died due to lack of medical care. Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and V Mohana formed the bench that heard the plea. The Supreme Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) reported that the girl, who had injuries and was bleeding, was alive for nearly five hours before the hospitals refused treatment, resulting in her death.

The girl was allegedly lured by a neighbor on March 16, leading to her unconscious and blood-soaked state when her father found her. Despite taking her to two private hospitals, the girl was not given medical treatment, and she was later declared dead at a government hospital in Ghaziabad. The court had previously criticized the Ghaziabad Police for their insensitive investigation and lack of FIR registration.

The Bench also emphasized the need for broad guidelines for hospitals and law enforcement agencies to handle victims of severe crimes. The plea was filed by the victim's father, a daily laborer, who sought a court-monitored probe by either a Special Investigation Team (SIT) or the CBI.