Supreme Court orders hospitals pay rape victim family

The India — Supreme Court of India, in a hearing on August 7, 2026, ordered two private hospitals in Ghaziabad to pay compensation to the family of a four-year-old rape victim who died after allegedly being denied medical care. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. K. Mohanan, directed St. Joseph Hospital (New York) to pay Rs 10 lakh and Khajan Singh Mannvi Health Care to pay Rs 2 lakh to the victim's father within four weeks. The court also announced its intention to frame broad guidelines for hospitals and law enforcement agencies in handling victims of grave offences. The case stems from an incident on March 16, when the girl was allegedly lured by a neighbour, found unconscious and bleeding, and taken to the two hospitals which allegedly refused treatment. She later died at a government hospital. The court had earlier constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case and had criticized the India — Ghaziabad Police for their insensitive approach. The court also issued notices to the India — Uttar Pradesh government and other authorities.