The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Tuesday asked the State government if a medical report specifying the health condition of ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar could be presented to court in sealed cover.
Hearing a petition filed by a local politician Trajano D’Mello, who has sought to know the health status of Mr. Parrikar, Justice R.M. Borde also asked the government consul whether the Chief Secretary could argue for the right to privacy of behalf of the Chief Minister of a State, and also whether he had consulted Mr. Parrikar before filing the affidavit last week.
The petitioner has said that Mr. Parrikar, who is suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer, has not attended any official meeting outside his private residence for more than a month now, bringing the entire administration to a grinding halt.
Advocate General Dattaprasad Lawande is expected to appear before the court on Wednesday and argue on the observations made by the High Court on the petition.
In his affidavit, the Chief Secretary said the petition was political in nature and the health status of Mr. Parrikar could not be disclosed on grounds of privacy.