NEW DELHI: An Indian high court had to intervene after two couples in the royal city of Jodhpur in Rajasthan triggered a dilemma for authorities at a civic hospital, as they squabbled for custody of a new born boy, even as a baby girl born approximately at the same time lies unclaimed. The confusion arose after two women admitted to the same hospital delivered a boy and a girl and the hospital authorities botched up with the birth records and possibly switched custody on the advise of a midwife. The incident only goes to affirm that the girl child is still unwanted in today's Indian society. The Jodhpur high court took cognizance of the matter suo moto directing the hospital to carry out proper identification process as soon as possible. While the Medical Superintendent of Jodhpur's Umaid Hospital where the mix-up took place said the girl was born to Poonam and Chain Singh, midwives told the couple that Poonam had given birth to a boy and by mistake brought to them a baby boy which was actually born to Reshmi and Ganga Singh. In the midst of the squabble, the new-born girl has been left with no mother to take care of her in the crucial first seven days. Authorities have now opted for a DNA test to determine who the biological parents of the two new-borns are. The test, is however expected to take several days leaving the fate of the unclaimed baby girl unknown. “Till the report comes out, how can we accept whose child she is?” said Poonam. The police are now investigating the case.
