HC directs State to pay financial assistance arrears to Sattur woman
The Madras High Court has ordered the Tamil Nadu government to resume monthly financial assistance payments to a woman who contracted HIV from a blood transfusion at a government hospital in 2018. The court is monitoring the state's compliance with previous compensation and support orders.
Why it matters
This case underscores the role of the judiciary in holding state institutions accountable for medical negligence and ensuring long-term support for victims.
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Wednesday directed the State government to pay the financial assistance arrears to a Sattur woman, who was transfused with HIV-infected blood at a government hospital in December, 2018. The woman was pregnant at that time.
A Division Bench of Justices C.V. Karthikeyan and R. Sakthivel directed the government to pay the arrears to the woman and file a report. The court was hearing a batch of public interest litigation petitions that had sought a direction to the government to provide adequate compensation to the woman.
Earlier, the court had directed the State to pay a compensation of ₹25 lakh and provide her a government job. Subsequently, the court had directed the State to provide monthly financial assistance of ₹7,500 to the woman taking into account the fact that she had to spend at least ₹250 to ₹300 on nutrition per day.
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