HAVERI — Two medical officials at a taluk hospital in Haveri district have been suspended and face departmental inquiry after videos and photographs purportedly showing patients being made to clean a hospital cesspit circulated on social media, officials said on Tuesday.
Officials suspended, police case registered
The Health and Family Welfare Services department suspended Administrative Medical Officer Dr Shankar Hiregowdar and Senior Nursing Officer Vanitha Kurundawad with immediate effect, the government order said. The alleged incident took place on 28 August when two patients who had come for treatment were reportedly made to manually clean the hospital cesspit.
A case has been registered at Savanur Police Station under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with rash or negligent acts endangering human life or safety, along with relevant provisions of the law that prohibit manual removal of human excreta, the order added.
Officials described the conduct as "unbecoming of government servants" and said the acts reflected negligence, irresponsibility and illegality in the discharge of duty, the order said.
Departmental action and grounds cited
The suspension order stated the nurse had allegedly instructed patients known to her, and their relatives, to manually remove the hospital's cesspit contents. The administrative medical officer was held responsible for permitting the incident to occur on hospital premises.
The state government emphasised that Karnataka prohibits manual removal of human excreta and treats participation in such acts as punishable under law. The suspension has been ordered to facilitate a departmental inquiry into alleged dereliction of duty and related violations of the Karnataka Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 2021, officials said.
What has been initiated so far
- Immediate suspension of Dr Shankar Hiregowdar (AMO) and Vanitha Kurundawad (Senior Nursing Officer).
- FIR registered at Savanur Police Station under Section 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and other relevant provisions.
- Departmental inquiry ordered for alleged dereliction of duty and breach of service conduct rules.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| District | Haveri |
| Date of alleged incident | 28 August |
| Action taken | Suspension; police FIR; departmental inquiry |
| Relevant rules/laws | Karnataka ban on manual removal of human excreta; Karnataka Civil Services (Conduct) Rules, 2021; BNS Section 125 |
Context and legal framework
The suspension and FIR come against the backdrop of statutory prohibitions on manual removal of human excreta, intended to prevent inhumane practices and protect public health. The government order pointed to the statutory ban and said the matter would be investigated both criminally and administratively.
Officials said the inquiry will determine whether hospital procedures, supervision and sanitation protocols were violated and whether additional staff or systemic failures contributed to the incident. The action to suspend the two officials was taken to allow the inquiry to proceed without interference.
Local impact and next steps
The episode has prompted heightened scrutiny of sanitation practices at taluk-level health facilities across the district. Authorities are expected to review maintenance contracts, waste-management arrangements and staff training at the hospital involved and other similar institutions to ensure compliance with the law.
Police and health department officials have not released further details of the FIR or the status of the two patients who appear in the visuals. The departmental inquiry will examine documentary evidence, staff statements and other material before reaching findings and recommending action under service rules.
The suspension reflects immediate administrative response; further steps will depend on the outcomes of the criminal investigation and the departmental probe. The health department said it will not hesitate to take stringent action if the inquiry substantiates allegations of unlawful conduct or dereliction of duty.
Prakash Gowda is the Karnataka correspondent based in Bengaluru.
