Bombay HC pulls up Maharashtra Govt over pregnant women being forced to undergo unsafe deliveries

The Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of news reports exposing the plight of pregnant women in Maharashtra’s hilly regions who are forced to deliver at home without medical assistance. 

On December 8, a Division Bench comprising Justice Vibha Kankanwadi and Justice Hiten S. Venegavkar acted on a report published in Daily Divya Marathi the same day. The report revealed that women in remote areas often resort to unsafe practices during childbirth, including cutting the umbilical cord with bamboo sticks or shaving blades. 

The Bench observed, “We have come across a shocking news reported in Daily Divya Marathi Newspaper today i.e. 8th December 2025, wherein a plight of the pregnant women in the hilly area has been highlighted.” 

According to the report, despite the Maharashtra government spending ₹771 crore over the last one-and-a-half years on schemes aimed at reducing maternal and infant mortality, healthcare facilities remain inaccessible in remote areas. The news item carried interviews of individuals who assist in home deliveries, admitting that they cut umbilical cords with blades and, in cases of stillbirth, “Even when the child dies in the womb, at that time also with the help of blade the foetus is cut into pieces and those pieces are taken out.” 

It also mentioned that women are sometimes given liquor to ease delivery pains, “…if the pains of delivery are not subsiding then they are making the ladies to consume Mahua liquor.” 

One 40-year-old woman reportedly told the newspaper that during her eighth pregnancy, she herself cut the umbilical cord with a blade. 

The Judges expressed concern over the failure of government schemes to reach vulnerable populations, “If the Government is spending so much of amount on the schemes and the schemes are not reaching at every corner and to every citizen, then it cannot be stated that there is a success of such scheme.” 

Government Pleader A.B. Girase, appearing for the State, acknowledged that such gaps may exist not only in Nandurbar district but also in Kinwat in Nanded district. He assured the court that he would collect instructions and submit relevant data.  

The Bench, however, underscored the State’s constitutional obligation, “We are of the opinion that the Government is bound to give good health facilities to the citizens and it should reach to every citizen. Special attention is required in respect of women and children.” 

The order noted that while ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers and other personnel are deployed under government schemes to educate pregnant women, their absence in tribal areas amounts to systemic failure.  

The Judges observed, “Persons have been employed who explain the precautions to be taken by the pregnant ladies, how their periodical check ups are necessary, what should be their diet etc. But if such persons are not available for service in the tribal areas, then it can be said to be the failure of the scheme and then that of the Government.” 

Taking cognisance of the issue as a Suo Motu PIL, the Bench issued specific directions, “We take the cognizance of the said news item as Suo Moto Public Interest Litigation and direct the Government Pleader to produce on record the necessary data with the affidavits of the relevant government officers on or before 19th December 2025.” 

The judges added, “We intend to pass further detail order after considering those affidavits.” 

To assist the court, advocate Geeta Deshpande was appointed as Amicus Curiae to study the matter and file a proper petition, after considering the affidavits which would be filed. 

The matter has been posted for further hearing on December 19, 2025.