No autopsy report after 18 months, HC seeks responses of AIIMS, police

The Delhi high court on Friday sought responses from the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and the city police on an Odisha-based woman’s plea, claiming that she had not yet received the final post-mortem report of her husband who had died while he visited the national Capital in 2013.

The Bhubaneswar resident said in the absence of the report, she was facing acute financial hardship and was unable to claim insurance or conduct banking activities.

Terming the conduct of AIIMS and Sarojini Nagar SHO “very unfortunate”, Justice VP Vaish issued a notice to them and sought their replies by August 10.

The court also asked the SHO to be personally present on the next date of hearing.

The deceased's wife Jharana Pradhan, a resident of Bhubaneswar, has sought directions to All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) and the police to provide her with the final report of her husband's post-mortem.

The 42-year old woman has also asked for a declaration from the court that the inordinate delay in providing final post-mortem report was "improper and unjust".

She has also sought compensation for the "harassment and loss" caused to her, saying a final report was insisted upon by the bank where there was a pending loan transaction started by her husband and also to settle the insurance claim.