FREE OF COST MEDICAL TREATMENT TO VICTIMS

Section 357-C of Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 mandates all hospitals, public or private, whether run by the Central Government, the State Government, local bodies or any other person, to immediately, provide the first-aid or medical treatment, free of cost to the victims of any offence under Section 326-A (voluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid, etc.), 376 (rape), 376-A (person committing an offence of rape and inflicting injury which causes death or causes the woman to be in a persistent vegetative state), 376-B (sexual intercourse by husband upon his wife during separation), 376-C (sexual intercourse by a person in authority), 376-D (gang rape) or Section 376-E (repeat offenders) of Penal Code and also to immediately inform the police of such incident. Section 166-B of the Penal Code, 1860 provides punishment for non-treatment of victim. It provides that whoever, being in charge of a hospital, public or private, whether run by the Central Government, the State Government, local bodies or any person, contravenes the provision of Section 357-C of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or with fine or with both. The contravention of Section 166-B of the Penal Code is non-cognizable and bailable offence and is triable by the magistrate of the first class.