The Telangana Human Rights Commission (TGHRC) has recommended a compensation of ₹4 lakh each to 18 patients who developed severe eye infections after undergoing cataract surgeries under the ‘Kanti Velugu’ scheme at Jaya Hospital in Hanumakonda in 2018, holding that gross negligence and violations of established medical standards at the hospital led to the post-operative complications.The recommendation also holds the Telangana government liable for the lapses of its officials, including the District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO), Hanumakonda, as well as doctors and staff associated with the hospital.The case was taken up suo motu in 2018 following reports about 18 patients losing vision after cataract surgeries at Jaya Hospital. The patients had undergone surgeries on September 26, 2018, and developed infections that were detected during post-operative follow-up. They were subsequently referred to L.V. Prasad Eye Institute in Hyderabad for specialised treatment.A technical committee constituted to investigate the incident found several serious deficiencies in the hospital’s operation theatre and surgical practices. Its findings included poor maintenance and cleanliness of the operation theatre, inadequate infection-control measures, deployment of an untrained nurse for ophthalmic procedures and the use of untrained housekeeping staff.The committee also found that the same surgical instrument sets and consumables were being used for multiple patients, creating a high risk of cross-contamination. Instruments were cleaned with the same tap water used for scrubbing, no brush or antiseptic was used for cleaning, and instrument sets were not numbered to establish which set had been used for a particular patient.The panel concluded that the sequence of events, the inspection findings and the medical evidence established that the infections were not natural or unavoidable complications, but were a direct consequence of negligent and unsafe practices at the hospital.The order records that six of the 18 complainants had died by the time of the proceedings. The panel directed the authorities to identify the next of kin of the deceased victims through the revenue authorities and disburse the compensation to them. Published - August 11, 2026 06:46 pm IST