A senior advocate, Malti Ramesh Pawar, allegedly died of cardiac arrest inside the bar room of the Esplanade Court near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) on Friday. The advocate’s husband, Ramesh Pawar, has alleged that she did not receive timely medical assistance and that the lack of basic medical facilities inside the court premises led to her death.
Following the incident, Advocate Sunil Pandey wrote a letter to the Chief Judicial Magistrate of the Esplanade Court, Mumbai, requesting that emergency medical and first aid facilities be made available for advocates in all Mumbai courts to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Malti, 59, a resident of Majiwada, Thane, was a senior advocate and mediator practicing in the Family Court, the Bombay High Court, and other local courts. Her husband, Ramesh — a law graduate and bank manager — told mid-day that no one administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to his wife when she collapsed. Instead, bystanders recorded videos instead of rushing her to GT Hospital, located just next to the court building.
Malti Pawar (right) Advocate Sunil Pandey has written to the Chief Judicial Magistrate requesting first aid and medical facilities at all Mumbai courts
Speaking with mid-day, Ramesh further said, “My wife was working with multiple courts as a mediator. On Thursday, she had gone to collect a certified copy for a case but couldn’t get it, so she went again on Friday. She was waiting inside the bar room in the afternoon and wasn’t feeling well. She called me and said she was feeling uneasy and would take some rest in the bar room.”
“She suffered a heart attack inside the bar room, but not a single advocate present knew how to give CPR. None of them took her to the hospital, which is just in the next building. Instead, someone recorded a video showing people giving her water and tea while she was unconscious. Around 6.30 pm, I received a call from Azad Maidan police station saying my wife had been admitted to Cama Hospital — but she was already dead,” Pawar said.
He added, “When I reached the hospital, I found my wife lying on a stretcher with her bag beside her. No colleagues were present. The Azad Maidan police admitted her to Cama Hospital, but she was declared dead before admission.”
“Urgent medical facilities, including doctors, are required in the courts. Many senior and elderly advocates work there, yet no such facilities exist. I lost my wife, but I don’t want any other advocate to face the same tragedy,” Ramesh further said.
Advocate Pandey Court told mid-day, “I have written to the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Esplanade Court requesting that first aid and medical facilities be made available inside all courts. There must be CPR training for advocates and court staff, and emergency medical equipment and contact numbers should be installed inside the court premises.”
“I also requested the court to kindly coordinate with major government hospitals such as Cama and GT Hospital to establish a clear, fast-track emergency response mechanism for advocates who require urgent cardiac or other critical medical assistance during court hours,” added Advocate Pandey.
