Supreme Court Clears Hospital of Criminal Charges

The Supreme Court has dismissed a criminal complaint against a Kolkata hospital, determining that billing discrepancies and service grievances are civil, not criminal, matters. The case, stemming from a 2021 incident, involved allegations of incorrect billing and poor conduct. The court found no criminal intention or trust breaches, leading to the quashing of charges.

The Supreme Court has dismissed a criminal complaint made against a Kolkata-based hospital and its chairman. The court ruled that issues regarding billing discrepancies and service grievances fall within civil jurisdiction and do not qualify as criminal offenses.

The case originated from a complaint about a 2021 treatment incident at Narayana Multispecialty Hospital. Allegations included an unnecessary HRCT test charge and poor staff behavior. However, the Supreme Court noted no criminal intent existed, describing any billing errors as inadvertent without malicious intent.

Ultimately, the court quashed the charges, highlighting the lack of foundational elements for criminal offenses such as cheating or breach of trust. It reaffirmed the scenario as a commercial transaction rather than a fiduciary relationship.