CHENNAI: The improvement seen in the health condition of the nine-and-half-year old boy, whose father had approached the court for mercy killing, is a miracle, a division bench of the Madras High Court said on Wednesday.

This kind of improvement shown by a boy, who has been lying in the permanent vegetative state (PVS) since birth, is a miracle, for which Dr P Umamaheswari of Anirudha Medical Organisation, has to be appreciated, the bench of Justices Kirubakaran and  P Rajamanickam said.

When the matter came up for hearing on Wednesday, petitioner Thirumeni of Cuddalore district told the judges that there was a ray of hope for his son to recuperate thanks to the treatment given by the organisation, in which he was admitted. For the past 11 days, his son has been taking treatment and now he is able to see some improvement in his condition.

The doctor produced a report which stated that the ability of the boy to recognise sound and view the surroundings has improved.

Dr Umamaheswari, a specialist in trigger point therapy, told the bench that the treatment had to be continued and the hospital would take care of the needs of the boy and his parents including boarding and lodging.

The bench adjourned the matter to November 8 after recording the submissions of Assistant Solicitor General G Karthikeyan and of the State counsel that they would come back after ascertaining the stand of the State and Centre on providing free medical treatment to the patients in similar condition.