Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Karnataka Doctor, Nurse Suspended Over Patients Cleaning Cesspit
A hospital pit filled with dirty human waste and began overflowing.
Police say two patients were made to clean it by hand.
The patients were allegedly offered better treatment and medicines in return.
A doctor and a senior nurse at the hospital have been suspended.
They are also facing a police case under a law against manual scavenging.
The doctor reportedly asked municipal officials for help on August 27.
Police say no response came before the patients were used to clean the pit.
The health department is investigating what happened.
A doctor and senior nurse at Savanur taluk hospital were suspended Monday.
They allegedly forced two patients to manually clean an overflowing cesspit.
Police booked the pair under India’s 2013 manual scavenging prohibition law.
The pit had reportedly been overflowing for several days.
Authorities said the doctor had sought municipal help on August 27 but received no response.
- Who
- Dr Shankar Y Hiregowdar, senior nurse Vanitha, and two patients are involved in the allegations.
- What
- The doctor and nurse were suspended and booked after allegedly making two patients manually clean an overflowing cesspit.
- When
- The suspensions were announced Monday; the doctor reportedly wrote to municipal authorities on August 27.
- Where
- Savanur taluk hospital in Karnataka’s Haveri district.
- Why
- Police said the cesspit was overflowing and municipal authorities had not responded to the doctor’s request for assistance.
- Location
- Savanur taluk hospital, Haveri district, Karnataka
- Accused
- Dr Shankar Y Hiregowdar and senior nurse Vanitha
- Alleged victims
- Two patients
- Allegation
- Patients were allegedly made to clean an overflowing cesspit manually
- Action taken
- Both hospital staff members were suspended pending a departmental inquiry
- Legal case
- Police booked them under sections of the Prohibition of Employment as Manual Scavengers and their Rehabilitation Act, 2013
- Administrative follow-up
- The district administration sought a report from Health Officer Dr Nagaraj