Attappady infant deaths: SHRC orders DHS, DME to file enquiry reports

Alexander Thomas, SHRC chairperson The State Human Rights Commission has directed the Director of Health Services (DHS) and the Director of Medical Education (DME) to submit to the Commission their enquiry reports on the circumstances that led to the deaths of infants in the tribal colonies of Attappady.The Commission gave this directive in a case it registered suo motu, following media reports that expert teams were being deputed by the government from the Health department and the Directorate of Medical Education to investigate the death of infants in the tribal colonies in Attappady.SHRC chairperson Alexander Thomas has asked the DHS and the DME to file separate copies of their investigation reports with the Commission within five weeks, including all the annexures and other documents that they had studied, for the perusal of the Commission.The DHS and the DME have also been asked to report on the measures that are required to be taken by the government hospitals/health centres in Attappadi, Agali, etc, to ensure the good health and wellness of tribal infants. The DHS has also been asked to file a report on the functioning of various government hospitals and health centres in the area and the measures/ facilities that are required in these health facilities for improving the health of mothers and their children.A senior officer not below the rank of Deputy DHS and a senior officer not below the rank of Deputy DME have been asked to be present at a sitting before the Commission on January 5 2027, to explain the facts of the case. Published - November 12, 2026 07:59 pm IST