'Death Of Children In Open Tube-Wells': Madhya Pradesh High Court Takes Suo Motu Cognizance

The Madhya Pradesh High Court at Jabalpur has recently taken a Suo Motu Cognizance of the incidents related to the death of children by falling into tube wells throughout the State of Madhya Pradesh.

The Division Bench of Chief Justice Ravi Malimath and Justice Vishal Mishra directed the matter to be registered as a Suo Motu Petition. "Matter pertains to the unfortunate death of children in the open tube-wells throughout the State of Madhya Pradesh. Hence, the petition has been registered as a suo motu proceeding based on the various publications made in the daily newspapers," read the order of the High Court.

Suyash Thakur, Government Advocate accepted the notice on behalf of the Government. The Bench directed the matter to be listed after four weeks.

The High Court while registering the matter Suo-Motu relied on several newspaper publications which depicted the fall of children in the open tube wells and succumbing to their injuries in Madhya Pradesh. Recently, a two and a half year girl fell into a deep tube well but succumbed to her injuries in an unsuccessful 52 hours of rescue operation.

Similarly, a boy fell into a deep tube well and later during the rescue operation by Indian Army and National Disaster Response Forces was found dead by the time he was pulled out. There have been multiple events reported of children felling into tube wells in Madhya Pradesh.

Cause Title: In Reference (Suo Motu) v. The State Of Madhya Pradesh And Others

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