Bombay HC Takes Suo Motu Cognisance Of News Report On Pregnant Women Compelled To Deliver Child At Home, Use Blade To Cut Umbilical Chord

The Bombay High Court recently took Suo Motu cognisance of the plight of pregnant women in hilly areas of Maharashtra wherein women are compelled to deliver children at home and use 'shaving blades' to cut the umbilical chords.

A division bench of Justices Vibha Kankanwadi and Hiten Venegavkar noted from news item published in a Marathi Daily which stated that the Maharashtra Government has spent over Rs 771 crores in the last 1.5 years to avoid the death of pregnant women, foetus, children etc.

"If the Government is spending so much of amount on the schemes and the schemes are not reaching at every corner and to every citizen, then it cannot be stated that there is a success of such scheme," the judges remarked in the order passed on December 8.

The bench made it clear that the Government is bound to give good health facilities to the citizens and it should reach to every citizen.

"Special attention is required in respect of women and children. As regards the pregnant women are concerned, we are aware that there are Asha workers who are working and even at some places under the schemes introduced by the Government, persons have been employed who explain the precautions to be taken by the pregnant ladies, how their periodical check ups are necessary, what should be their diet etc. But if such persons are not available for service in the tribal areas, then it can be said to be the failure of the scheme and then that of the Government," the judges held.

Therefore, the bench took cognisance of the said news item as Suo Moto Public Interest Litigation and directed the Government Pleader to produce on record the necessary data with the affidavits of the relevant government officers on or before December 19, 2025.

Notably, the news item in question, highlighted the plight of pregnant women in the hilly areas. The news pointed that the Government of Maharashtra has spent around Rs 771 Crores in the last 1 and a half years to avoid the death of pregnant women, foetus death or even the new born child, however, the health services are not provided in the hilly area and they are still depending on the bamboo or shaving blades.

"In the news item, the interviews of two persons have been given who are making such deliveries and they specifically say that they cut the umbilical cord with the help of blade. Even when the child dies in the womb, at that time also with the help of blade the foetus is cut into pieces and those pieces are taken out. They both claim that they have made deliveries of hundreds of ladies and now it is stated that son of one of them is still carrying out such activities further," the order reads.

Further the judges recorded from the news item that if the pains of delivery are not subsiding then the women are made to consume Mahua liquor. The bench further noted from the news item, an interview of 40 years old lady who appeared to have undergone the pregnancy for 8th time and that she herself had cut the umbilical cord with the help of blades.

The judges also appointed advocate Geeta Deshpande as Amicus Curiae and has posted the matter for further hearing on December 19.

Appearance:

Government Pleader AB Girase represented the State

Case Title: The Registrar (Judicial), High Court of Bombay vs State of Maharashtra [Suo Motu Public Interest Litigation (Stamp No.) 36990 of 2025]

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