The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance of two separate incidents reported in Gorakhpur district of Uttar Pradesh involving alleged violations of human rights and administrative negligence. The Commission has issued notices to state authorities and sought detailed reports within two weeks.
In the first case, the Commission took cognizance of a media report concerning botched cataract surgeries conducted during an eye camp at a private hospital in Gorakhpur on 1 February 2026. According to the report, cataract surgeries were performed on 30 patients during the camp. Within 24 hours of the procedures, several patients reportedly began experiencing severe pain and discharge from the operated eye.
Subsequent medical examination revealed that 18 patients had developed infections. Due to the severity of the complications, they were referred for further treatment to hospitals in Delhi, Lucknow and Varanasi. As the infections worsened, the infected eye of at least nine patients had to be surgically removed, while another nine patients reportedly lost vision in one eye.
Taking serious note of the incident, the National Human Rights Commission observed that if the contents of the report are accurate, the matter raises grave concerns regarding the violation of the human rights of the victims and possible medical negligence. The Commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary of the Government of Uttar Pradesh and the Senior Superintendent of Police of Gorakhpur, directing them to submit a detailed report on the matter within two weeks.
In a separate case, the Commission has also taken suo motu cognizance of the reported death of an 11 year old boy who allegedly fell into an uncovered drain in Gorakhpur on 19 February 2026. According to the media report, residents had earlier complained to local authorities about the uncovered drain at an under construction site but no preventive action had been taken.
The incident reportedly occurred when the boy was returning home after purchasing stationery items. His bicycle slipped into the open drain, which was concealed behind dense bushes near the construction site, leading to the fatal accident.
Observing that the incident raises serious concerns about administrative negligence and possible violation of the human rights of the victim, the Commission has issued notices to the District Magistrate and the Senior Superintendent of Police of Gorakhpur. The authorities have been asked to submit a comprehensive report within two weeks detailing the circumstances surrounding the incident.
The Commission has also directed that the report should include information on whether any compensation has been provided to the family of the deceased boy and the steps taken to prevent such incidents in the future.
Through these actions, the National Human Rights Commission has sought accountability from the concerned authorities and emphasized the need for strict adherence to medical standards, public safety measures and administrative responsibility to prevent similar tragedies.
