The Meghalaya Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has recommended a compensation of ₹10 lakh for the children of a pregnant woman who died at Jowai MCH Hospital, holding that medical negligence played a role in the incident.
The Commission took up the matter on its own after a newspaper report dated June 6, 2025 highlighted the death. The case relates to a woman from Jalaphet village in East Jaintia Hills district, whose family had alleged serious negligence by hospital staff during her treatment.
Following the incident, the Health and Family Welfare Department constituted an enquiry committee on July 7, 2025 to examine the circumstances surrounding the death. The committee, after its investigation, found multiple lapses and deficiencies in the handling of the patient’s case.
In a statement issued on Monday, MHRC Secretary L Ch Marak said the Commission had passed its final order on March 23, 2026. The order has been sent to the Additional Chief Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department of the Meghalaya government.
The Commission recommended that ₹10 lakh be paid to the children of the deceased woman. It said the compensation is meant to support their living conditions, as they have lost their mother at a young age.
The MHRC also noted that the findings of the enquiry clearly pointed to shortcomings in medical care, which contributed to the woman’s death. The case has raised concerns about healthcare services and accountability in government hospitals in the state.