The National Human Rights Commission(NHRC) has sought an Action Taken Report (ATR) from the Director of the All India Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi on steps taken to ensure justice to separated conjoined twins who are to be discharged and sent to their home state Odisha soon.

Acting on a petition filed by activist and lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy the NHRC sought the report within four weeks. The petition points out the apprehension of health condition of Jaga and Balia – – the conjoined twins, who were separated after surgery are likely to be sent back to Odisha from AIIMS, New Delhi.

The 31-month-old kids have been kept under constant supervision at the AIIMS since they were admitted. Odisha government had sent the tribal conjoined twins to AIIMS Delhi. The twins, hailing from Milipada village in Kandhamal district, were separated in the heads in two phases. The State has arranged adequate fund for their treatment.

They could be kept in AIIMS till date. As they are not fully fit especially the condition of Balia is not good, they should be in AIIMS. The state government is not well equipped for their treatment in the state. Had that been the case the operation could have been done in the State itself, stated petitioner Tripathy. The final separation needed a 22-hour surgery by a team of doctors at the AIIMS. Only Jaga is stable as of now but not Balia,

Their parents claimed the health condition need to improve further to go back to Odisha. Odisha government to ask the AIIMS authorities to keep Jaga-Balia in the hospital for some more months until they are fully fit to be shifted. Since both of them along with their parents have been here their care seems to be all right.

Once they get separated and sent back to Odisha where the infrastructure and ancillary and incidental facilities are lacking there shall be imminent threat to their lives, Tripathy maintained. The facts and circumstances of the case also pose questions regarding Right to Health and basic human rights of not only of the kids but also of the entire family, Tripathy contended.

He requested the NHRC to direct the Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to ensure healthy stay of the twins with proper health check-ups with all possible care at AIIMS till they get fully fit.