Madras HC directed TM Government to pay Rs 1 lakh to the family of a man who went missing from a COVID-19 treatment facility

Bench: Justices PN Prakash and N Anand Venkatesh

As per the Madras High Court's order on Monday, the Tamil Nadu government is directed to pay a compensation of Rs 1 lakh to the family of a 72-year-old who went missing after he was taken for COVID-19 treatment in 2020.

The bench said that in spite of how challenging it was for the State to deal with COVID-19 at its peak, the Court could not ignore the case of a man who went missing after visiting a State facility.

Additionally, the State Police refused to register the first information report (FIR) for missing persons.

The bench was hearing a Habeas Corpus petition by the son of one Adikesavan, looking for his father or his father's body to be produced before the HC.

On June 9, 2020, Adikesavan was tested positive for COVID-19 and sent to the quarantine center at the civic-run Kilpauk Government Medical College and Hospital by the civic body. Due to the lack of a mobile phone, he was unable to contact his family. As Adikesevan did not return home, his sons went to the local hospitals but were unable to locate him.

At the hearing in the High Court, government officials claimed that Adikesavan had been transferred from Kilpauk Hospital to Rajiv Gandhi Hospital. A few days later, CCTV footage showed Adikesavan walking out of the Rajiv Gandhi Hospital. However, he was found anywhere.

Despite Adikesavan's son's complaints, the police did not take him seriously when he went to the police station. On June 23, an FIR was finally registered after Adikesavan was taken to the PHC.

The bench disposed of the petition directing the police to continue to trace Adikesavan.