📰 Bilaspur Sterilisation Tragedy: Surgeon Dr R.K. Gupta Convicted, Sentenced to 2 Years in Jail

Raipur: In a significant development in the long-pending case of the 2014 sterilisation tragedy in Chhattisgarh, a local court has convicted surgeon Dr R K Gupta and sentenced him to two years of imprisonment. The case pertains to a botched sterilisation camp in Bilaspur district that led to the deaths of 12 women and left several others critically ill.

The court found Dr Gupta guilty of negligence while performing mass sterilisation surgeries during a government-organised family planning camp. The incident, which took place in November 2014, had sparked nationwide outrage over poor medical practices and lack of safety protocols in public health initiatives.

According to the prosecution, Dr Gupta conducted an unusually high number of surgeries within a short span of time, allegedly violating established medical norms and guidelines. Reports at the time indicated that more than 80 sterilisation procedures were carried out in just a few hours, raising serious concerns about hygiene, post-operative care, and the use of sterilised equipment.

Investigations had also revealed that contaminated medicines and improper surgical conditions contributed to the deaths. Victims suffered from severe complications soon after the procedures, leading to fatalities and prolonged suffering for many others.

The tragedy exposed systemic lapses in the implementation of sterilisation drives, particularly in rural and underprivileged areas. It also led to increased scrutiny of family planning programmes and the need for stricter adherence to medical standards.

Families of the victims had been seeking justice for over a decade, and the court’s verdict has been seen as a step toward accountability. However, some have expressed dissatisfaction, arguing that the punishment is too lenient given the scale of the tragedy.

The case remains a stark reminder of the consequences of negligence in public healthcare and has prompted calls for reforms to ensure such incidents are not repeated in the future.