The High Court yesterday issued a rule asking the director and a physician of the Impact Masudul Haque Memorial Community Health Centre (IMHMCHC) in Chuadanga to explain why they should not be directed to give Tk 20 crore in compensation to 20 people who lost their eyesight following surgeries at the health centre on March 5.

Director of IMHMCHC Hasib Mahmud and its physician Mohammad Shahin, who reportedly conducted the eye surgeries on 20 poor people, have been asked to give the explanation in two weeks.

In the rule, the court asked the authorities concerned of the government and IMHMCHC to show causes why inaction of Hasib and Shahin in adopting proper safety measures while conducting the eye operations should not be declared illegal.

The court in the rule also asked the authorities to come up with an answer why legal action should not be taken against Hasib and Shahin for their reported misdeed and negligence in conducting unsafe eye operations during a three-day eye camp.

The health secretary, home secretary, director general of the directorate of the health services, civil surgeon of Chuadanga, deputy commissioner and superintendent of police of Chuadanga, director of IMHMCHC Hasib Mahmud and its physician Shahin have been made respondents to the rule.

The bench of Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir came up with the rule following a writ petition filed by Supreme Court lawyer Advocate Amit Das Gupta seeking a HC directive on IMHMCHC.

The bench asked the petitioner to place the matter before it on May 6 for hearing the rule.

Advocate Amit Das Gupta yesterday submitted the petition as a public interest litigation based on a report of the daily Samakal on March 29.

The report says 20 persons have lost their eyes following the surgeries on March 5 as the authorities did not adopt appropriate safety measures.