A heartbreaking scene played out at a Serious Irregularities Report (SIR) tribunal in West Bengal: 68-year-old Lakshmi Devi succumbed to a massive heart attack while her case was being heard. The incident has exposed glaring gaps in public hearing infrastructure.
Devi, hailing from a modest background, was fighting for her family’s ancestral land. In the midst of detailing her woes, she experienced acute distress and collapsed instantly. Frantic attempts at CPR by bystanders failed, and she was declared dead en route to medical care.
Eyewitness accounts paint a picture of inadequate facilities—no nearby ambulance, no trained medical personnel. This has fueled anger among locals, who point to similar oversights in past events.
Government spokespersons have offered sympathies and announced immediate measures like mandatory health desks at tribunals. Yet, activists warn that without sustained funding and training, such promises ring hollow.
As the probe unfolds, Devi’s story resonates far beyond Bengal, underscoring the urgent need for empathy in justice delivery. Her untimely demise may yet spur reforms protecting the most vulnerable.