Timeline: Aruna’s tragedy

Mar 07, 2011 |

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New Delhi: Following is the chronology of events relating to the 60-year-old KEM nurse Aruna Ramachandra Shanbaug whose plea for mercy killing was on Monday rejected by the Supreme Court.

1966: Aruna, hailing from Haldipur, Shimoga in Karnataka, joins KEM Hospital, Mumbai as a staff nurse.

Nov 27, 1973: Aruna, 24, is assaulted physically and sodomised by a sweeper, Sohanlal Valmiki, at the hospital, who ties a dog's leash around her neck and yanks her with it.

Nov 28, 1973: A cleaner finds her lying on the floor with blood all over in an unconscious condition. It is learnt that due to strangulation by the dog's leash, supply of oxygen to the brain stopped and the brain got damaged.

Later, nurses at KEM go on a three-day strike demanding additional security and better working conditions.

1974: Sohanlal is sentenced to seven years' imprisonment for attempt to murder and for robbing Aruna's earrings.

1998: Journalist and author Pinki Virani is given permission to shift Aruna for MRI to Jaslok Hospital. However, doctors, fearing it could cause Aruna's death, retract the permission.

The same year, 'Aruna's story, the true account of a rape and its aftermath' authored by Pinki Virani is published.

Dec 18, 2009: SC admits Pinki Virani's petition for mercy killing of Aruna.

Jan 24, 2011: SC appoints a team of three distinguished doctors of Mumbai – J. V. Divatia, Roop Gurshani and Nilesh Shah - to examine Aruna thoroughly and submit a report about her physical and mental condition.

Dr Sanjay Oak, Dean KEM Hospital, Mumbai issues a statement opposing euthanasia for Aruna.

Feb 17: The team of doctors submits report to the court.

Feb 18: SC directs the three doctors to appear before it on March 2,2011. Also to explain technical terms used in the report and share their views on euthanasia.

Mar 2, 2011: SC reserves verdict.

Mar 7, 2011: SC dismisses plea for mercy killing of Aruna. Allows passive euthanasia under exceptional circumstances.

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