Blow for Indian birth control

By Jyotsna Singh in Delhi

The Indian Supreme Court has asked the state government in Haryana to pay damages to a woman who gave birth to a child - despite undergoing a sterilisation programme at a state-owned hospital.

Santra Devi, a mother of seven children, decided to avail herself of a government-sponsored sterilisation programme.

Obsevers say the ruling is a blow for family planning

But to her dismay, she found herself pregnant again and gave birth to a girl.

She and her husband decided to sue the hospital and the government.

The Supreme Court has now ruled in favour of the couple, saying that the government must pay the expenses of the unwanted child because it was ultimately liable for the failure of the sterilisation scheme.

The court has asked the government to pay the child's expenses until it adulthood.

The court also said that the doctor who performed the operation must be held responsible for damages if he was negligent and caused another birth in the family, adding to their economic burden.

Birth control plans

Observers say the ruling adds a new dimension to government-sponsored family planning programmes which have often come under attack for being ineffective.

Complaints of negligence at government hospitals - particularly with sterilisation programmes that are free - are common.

Some observers say that the ruling makes a mockery of the government's efforts at birth control.

According to official estimates, the country's population is expected to touch one billion next month and the government faces a daunting task if it is successful in checking India's spiralling growth rate.