New Delhi: A Delhi court Thursday allowed an application filed by Bhim Army chief Chandrashekhar Azad who had sought his medical treatment at AIIMS.
Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Arul Verma ordered that Azad be provided treatment at AIIMS for polycythemia. Azad’s application had claimed he is suffering from polycythemia, a condition that thickens the blood and may lead to a cardiac arrest.
He had submitted that he is undergoing treatment under the supervision of his doctor at AIIMS, and therefore demanded that the authorities be directed to either provide him treatment or take him to AIIMS.
The judge, in his order Thursday, expressed displeasure that “despite being aware of the fact that the accused had expressed to the jail authorities… that he was a patient of polycythemia, no action was taken by the jail authorities”.
“…there is a report on record of two doctors from the department of haemetology, AIIMS, who have categorically stated that as per their clinical assessment, the accused has polycythemia,” he observed.
The court then directed the jail authorities to give the requisite treatment to Azad for polycythemia. “It is the duty of the state to preserve life, whether a person is incarcerated or outside prisons,” it observed.
While the jail medical officer objected to the court specifically ordering treatment at AIIMS, the judge rejected his submission in view of the fact that Azad was undergoing treatment there before he was arrested.
Azad has been in judicial custody since 21 December 2019, when he was arrested from Jama Masjid during a protest against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
A case was registered against him under various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, including Sections 147 (punishment for rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with a deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public), and 120B (criminal conspiracy).
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‘Condition deteriorating’
During the hearing Wednesday, advocates Mehmood Pracha, O.P. Bharti, V.C. Bharti and M.S. Arya, representing Azad, informed the court about his medical condition.
A report submitted by the medical officer of Tihar jail said Azad’s vitals were stable and satisfactory, and that all his medical complaints, which included backache, body pain, toothache and eye irritation, were being attended to.
The report only acknowledged that he had “grossly carious teeth” on one occasion and allergic conjunctivitis on another occasion.
Judge Verma then adjourned the hearing on the application, noting that the investigating officer had sought more time to file a report. The court, however, directed the authorities to ensure that Azad receives medical attention if required, as an interim measure.
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He is ruckus create not an Army chief. Don’t act like dumb you congi stooge,!
This should not require intervention by the Court. Even a convict, which he is not, should not be denied medical treatment.