Mumbai: Fr Stan Swamy to be taken to JJ Hospital for check-up today

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court told Taloja prison superintendent take Elgar Parishad accused Fr Stan Swamy to JJ Hospital on Thursday, reports Swati Deshpande. The HC also instructed the JJ Hospital dean to form a panel comprising doctors, a neurophysician, ENT specialist, orthopaedic and general physician, to examine Swamy (84) and submit a report on Friday.
The bench of Justices S J Kathawalla and S P Tavade passed the order while hearing an appeal by Fr Swamy, who is alleged to be a Maoist, seeking medical bail on grounds that he has Parkinsons, hearing loss in both ears and lumbar spondylosis. He was arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in October 2020.
But a report submitted by additional government pleader Jayesh Yagnik said he has had no fall in the prison so far, and he is not eligible for emergency Covid-19 bail under the May 2020 guidelines of a high-powered committee.
On May 4, the HC directed the state to file a medical report. The report, prepared by a medical officer of Taloja prison, said Fr Swamy was admitted to the prison hospital, his vitals were monitored daily and he was being given medical treatment. The HC, however, noted, that “nothing was mentioned about his abdominal pain and leg pain due to spondylosis”.
Opposing the plea, additional solicitor general Anil Singh, with advocate Sandesh Patil for NIA, said the report also noted that Fr Swamy has “never complained of anything and has expressed satisfaction with all facilities provided to him by the prison administration”. Senior counsel Mihir Desai, appearing for Fr Swamy, disputed the report and hence the HC said it was directing examination by a JJ panel of doctors. The HC told Taloja prison officials to produce Fr Swamy on Friday 10.30am via videoconferencing if it has the facility.