More than a decade after 15 women died following a botched sterilization drive in Chhattisgarh, a Bilaspur court is hearing the case against Dr. R.K. Gupta, the surgeon accused of conducting mass tubectomies in gross violation of medical norms.
The case, which dates back to November 8, 2014, has resurfaced as trial proceedings continue, with the court examining allegations of medical negligence and culpable homicide linked to the deaths of women who underwent sterilization at a government camp in Pendari village near Sakri in Bilaspur district.
Twelve years after the Bilaspur sterilization tragedy, the court convicted Dr. R.K. Gupta and sentenced him to two years’ imprisonment along with a fine of ₹25,000. The court also imposed an additional six months’ imprisonment and a ₹500 fine under Section 337 of the Indian Penal Code for causing hurt by an act endangering life.
While Gupta was found guilty, five other accused were acquitted due to lack of sufficient evidence.
According to case records, 83 women, mostly from economically vulnerable rural backgrounds were operated on within a span of a few hours during a state-run sterilization camp.
The procedures were conducted at a pace that allegedly violated government safety guidelines, which limit the number of sterilization surgeries a doctor can perform in a day.
Within 48 hours of the camp:
Women began reporting severe abdominal pain, vomiting, and complications
By November 10–13, 2014, the death toll rose to 15
More than 70 others were hospitalized, several in critical condition
The scale and speed of the procedures raised immediate red flags about patient safety and protocol violations.
Dr. R.K. Gupta, who performed the sterilization surgeries, was arrested shortly after the incident and faces charges including culpable homicide not amounting to murder and causing death by negligence.
Investigators alleged that he carried out an excessive number of procedures in a short period, operated in unsanitary and poorly equipped conditions, and failed to adhere to standard sterilization and surgical protocols.
However, Dr. Gupta has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that he was under pressure from authorities to meet sterilization targets and asserting that the deaths were not directly caused by the surgical procedures.
Parallel investigations revealed that the tragedy may not have been caused by surgical error alone.
Authorities found that:
Post-operative medicines, including antibiotics, were contaminated
Samples reportedly contained zinc phosphide, a toxic substance commonly used in rat poison
This shifted part of the focus toward the drug supply chain, leading to action against pharmaceutical suppliers linked to the batch of medicines administered to the women.
At the same time, inquiries exposed:
Use of improperly sterilized equipment
Overcrowded, poorly managed camp facilities
Lack of adequate post-operative monitoring
Several health officials were suspended, and investigations were launched into both medical negligence and the possibility of drug contamination. Authorities also made arrests linked to the manufacture and supply of contaminated medicines, while compensation was announced for the families of the deceased.
Additionally, a team from AIIMS, New Delhi, was deployed to assist in treating the affected women and to assess the situation on the ground.
The Bilaspur tragedy exposed deeper structural issues within India’s public health system. At the time, sterilization camps were widely used as a key tool for population control, with women often incentivized through cash benefits of around ₹600 or more. Additionally, doctors reportedly faced significant pressure to meet numerical targets, raising concerns about compromised safety and ethical standards.
(Rh/ARC)
