The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) has issued notice to Union Health Secy and the Director, AIIMS to ensure justice to Jaga and Balia, separated Conjoined Twins belonging to a tribal family of Kandhamal district of Odisha.

Acting on a petition filed by rights activist and lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy the NCST sought a reply from the authorities within 15 days.

He stated that 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 there. The twins, hailing from Milipada village in Kandhamal district, were separated in the heads in two phases.

The state government has already ensured sufficient funds for the treatment. The Chief Minister and the health minister of the state have visited AIIMS to enquire the health condition of the twins.

However, the state government is not well equipped for their treatment in Odisha. Had that been the case the operation could have been done in the state itself, Tripathy contended.

The separated twins are likely to be sent back to Odisha in the second week of March. Even if the twins’ treatment require further attention of the experts.

The parents of the children have been informed by the AIIMS in this regard. Their parents – Pushpanjali Kanhara and Bhuiya Kanhara are worried over this. They claimed the health condition has to improve further to go back to Odisha.

Expressing their anxiety if utmost care can be taken and the provided diet can be maintained in Odisha, the Kanhara family requested 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.

Tripathy requested the NCST 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.

The poor, uneducated ST family shall be deprived of justice unless the Commission intervenes said Tripathy.

In its notice, the NCST stated “ in case the Commission does not receive the required information within stipulated time, the Commission may exercise power of civil court under Article 338A of the Constitution of India and issue summons for the appearance in person or by representative before the Commission.”