Allahabad High Court 'Shocked' As Top Govt Medical College Turns Away Poisoning Victim Citing 'No Bed', Leading To Death

The Allahabad High Court recently recorded that it was 'shocked' to note that Lucknow's King George's Medical University (KGMU), the premier medical college of Uttar Pradesh, had refused admission to a critical patient at midnight, citing non-availability of beds. The victim, who was allegedly poisoned, died the next day for want of treatment.

"Once the premier Medical Institute of the State Capital is itself returning back a patient indicating the non availability of bed, prima facie, it speaks volumes about the state of the medical health facility in the State Capital. We are shocked!," a bench of Justice Abdul Moin and Justice Babita Rani observed.

The division bench further directed that a copy of its order be placed before the Chief Secretary for looking into the matter for the purpose of providing adequate facilities in the Medical Colleges and to submit a report by the next date of listing.

"The report would be brought on record with the personal affidavit of the Principal Secretary (Home) by the next date of listing, failing which, the Principal Secretary (Home) may be directed to appear personally," the bench further stated in the order.

BRIEFLY PUT, the Bench was hearing a Criminal Writ Petition filed by one Urmila in relation to an FIR lodged for an alleged Dowry Death case under Sections 80(2) and 85 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 and Sections 3/4 of the Dowry Prohibition Act.

The Court perused a report of KGMU, which indicated that initially, on August 29, 2025, at about 2:33 AM, when the patient/victim was taken to the hospital in critical condition, the hospital opined "suspected rat kill poisoning at 10 PM".

However, she could not be admitted to the hospital, indicating "regret no bed available, refer to Balrampur/RML", and later, she died.

The Bench observed that as KGMU is the premier Medical College of the State functioning from the State Capital and it is shocking that a patient taken there at midnight for emergency treatment was returned on the ground of non-availability of beds.

In addition to the above issue, the Court took exception to the significant delay in the forensic investigation. The court noted that the victim's viscera were sent for an FSL report on September 26, 2025; however, even after four months, the report is not filed.

The Bench observed that the authorities are under an obligation to ensure that FSL submits its report promptly, and that there is no basis for FSL to delay submission for months.

"In case there is a shortage of staff or there are fewer laboratories, it is for the State authorities to wake up from slumber and take appropriate action inasmuch as it is not expected that every citizen would approach the Court even to get a report from the Forensic Science Laboratory," the bench remarked.

The Chief Secretary has been asked to look into this matter as well and file a report by the next date of listing (March 19).