Rohtas: A glaring irregularity has once again cast a shadow over Bihar’s ailing healthcare system, after it emerged that a postmortem report was issued before the death of the person in question.
The incident, reported from the Vikramganj police station area in Rohtas district, involves Satyanarayan Gupta, a resident of Dhangai village. Gupta was critically injured in a road accident on May 16, near the SDO residence on the Bikramganj–Natwar road. He was rushed to Narayan Medical College in Jamuhar by his son, Vijay Kumar Gupta, and admitted around 9pm the same day. Despite receiving treatment for six days, he succumbed to his injuries on the morning of May 22.
Following protocol, the hospital notified the local police outpost, and the body was sent for a postmortem to Sadar Hospital, Sasaram, on May 22. The procedure was reportedly carried out the same day, and the body was formally handed over to the family.
However, when Vijay Kumar later sought a copy of the postmortem report to file an accident insurance claim under the Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, he was stunned to find that the report was dated May 21 — a full day before his father’s actual death.
The apparent clerical blunder has raised serious concerns about the functioning and accountability within the state’s health infrastructure. The erroneous documentation not only casts doubt over the handling of medico-legal procedures but also threatens to derail the deceased’s insurance claim, leaving the family in distress.
Vijay Kumar has submitted evidence to district authorities, including the Civil Surgeon, District Magistrate, and officials in the Bihar Health Department. The matter has reportedly reached the Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Government of India.
“This has caused unnecessary harassment at a time of grief,” said Vijay Kumar. “Due to the Health Department’s negligence, the postmortem report was backdated, and now we are unable to proceed with the insurance claim.”
District Magistrate Udita Singh, when contacted, said she was on leave and referred queries to the Deputy Development Commissioner (DDC), who is currently acting in charge. However, attempts to reach the DDC were unsuccessful.
