'₹1 Crore Still Needed': MP High Court Asks Centre, State To Explore Exceptional Financial Aid For 3-Year-Old Rare Disease Patient
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has asked the State and Central Governments to extend assistance in the plea of a 3-year-old girl suffering from a rare medical condition, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type-2, and is in critical condition, observing that ₹1 crore is still needed. The bench of Justice Sandeep N Bhatt observed:"It is also expected that looking to the special circumstances if...
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has asked the State and Central Governments to extend assistance in the plea of a 3-year-old girl suffering from a rare medical condition, Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) Type-2, and is in critical condition, observing that ₹1 crore is still needed.
The bench of Justice Sandeep N Bhatt observed:
"It is also expected that looking to the special circumstances if the Government can also find out some way to consider such cases under exceptional case to provide further financial assistance which is also fall to the tune of Rs. 1 crore after adding Rs. 50 lakhs as by the Government and Rs. 8 crores which are already collected by crowd funding by various institutions. It is also open for the State Government to find out some way to provide some financial assistance. It is also expected probably by next date that the further amount can be received from other organization/institution so that the treatment of said child who is suffering from rare disease can be started at the earliest".
The court had directed the Union of India, the State Government, as well as AIIMS Delhi, to discuss what benefits could be extended to the child on humanitarian grounds. The counsel appearing for AIIMS Delhi informed the court that the child was already receiving treatment from AIIMS, which is a nodal agency to provide the treatment.
In the subsequent hearing, the court noted that the parents had collected a substantial amount approximating ₹7.5 crores, including ₹50 sanctioned by the Union Government. The treatment cost will total ₹9.5 crores. The court, therefore, directed AIIMS to file a short reply on the condition of the child and her treatment.
In the last hearing, the counsel appearing for AIIMS sought time to file a reply. The said prayer was opposed by the parents' counsel, contending that despite the collection of a substantial amount, AIIMS has not initiated treatment. Thus, the bench had granted a week's time to AIIMS Delhi to file a reply to the alleged delay in starting her treatment.
Case Title: A v Union of India, WP No. 10849 of 2026
For Petitioner: Advocate Chanchal Gupta
For Union: Advocate Anuj Bhargava
For State: Government Advocate Bhagyashree Gupta