The National Human Rights Commission on Wednesday sought an Action Taken Report (ATR) from the Director of the All India Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi on the decision to send back the separated conjoined twins belonging to the Scheduled Tribe Community, from AIIMS to Odisha shortly.

Acting on a petition filed by rights activist and supreme court lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy, the NHRC directed AIMS, New Delhi to submit a report within four weeks. The petitioner expressed his apprehension on the health condition of the conjoined twins, who were separated after a surgery and are likely to be sent back to Odisha in coming days and sought the intervention of the NHRC. The 31-month-old kids have been kept under constant supervision at AIIMS, Delhi since they were admitted there. The twins, hailing from Milipada village in Kandhamal district, were separated from their heads in two phases.

The State has arranged adequate fund for their treatment. As the duo are not fully fit ,especially the condition of Balia is not good, they should be kept in AIIMS,the petitioner said adding that the Odisha government is not well equipped for their treatment in the state. Had that been the case the operation could have been done in the State itself, Mr Tripathy said. He said only one of the twins is stable as of now. The parents of the twins claimed, the health condition has to be improved further and they do not want to go back to Odisha with the children.

The parents requested Odisha government to ask the AIIMS authorities to keep the twins in the hospital for some more months until they are fully fit to be shifted. Since both of them along with their parents have been in AIIMS,Delhi their care seems to be all right. Once they get separated and sent back to Odisha where the infrastructure and ancillary facilities are lacking, there shall be imminent threat to their lives,the petitioner pointed out. The facts and circumstances of the case also pose questions regarding Right to Health and basic human rights of not only of the kids but also of the entire family, Mr.Tripathy contended. He requested the NHRC to direct the Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) to ensure stay of the twins with proper health check-ups at AIIMS till they get fully fit.