Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court has ruled that criminal charges cannot be sustained against Dr Vijayanand Reddy in connection with the death of a patient in November 2009, stating that no doctor begins treatment with the intention of harming the patient or their relatives. The court referred to a Supreme Court judgment, emphasising that criminal prosecution applies only when negligence is so severe that it results in loss of life.
The case originated from a complaint lodged in April 2013, alleging that a woman had died due to medical negligence by Dr Reddy. Based on the complaint, Hyderabad police registered a case and, following an investigation, filed a charge sheet. Dr Reddy had approached the High Court challenging the lower court’s dismissal of his discharge petition.
Justice E.V. Venugopal, who presided over the matter, recently delivered the verdict. The judge pointed out that, under the law, complaints must be filed within three years of the incident. However, in this case, the complaint was lodged after four years, with no acceptable justification provided for the delay.
The court further noted that the allegations lacked specific grounds to substantiate the criminal charges. The doctor had merely prescribed diagnostic tests and then referred the patient to another specialist, which in itself did not amount to criminal negligence. Citing the Supreme Court’s ruling in the Dr Suresh Gupta case, Justice Venugopal reiterated that civil remedies may be pursued in instances of medical negligence, but criminal liability arises only in cases of gross and life-threatening neglect.
Accordingly, the High Court set aside the lower court’s order and quashed the criminal proceedings against Dr Vijayanand Reddy.
