Elgar Parishad case: Stan Swamy speaks to Bombay HC via VC; says no to being shifted to hospital, prefers to await death in jail

MUMBAI: Elgar Parishad accused Stan Swamy (84), who is currently lodged at Taloja prison, informed the Bombay high court that he does not want to be shifted to JJ Hospital in Mumbai.
In a video conference hearing on Tuesday, Swamy informed the high court that he would rather suffer in jail and await his death there.
A bench of justice S J Kathawalla and justice S P Tavade was hearing his plea for medical bail and had sought his production via video conferencing from the jail and a report from JJ Hospital panel.
Swamy told the bench that when he was arrested and taken to prison eight months ago he could walk, bathe and eat by himself, but due to the bad conditions at the jail, his health has slowly deteriorated and he now needs assistance for these daily tasks, hence would prefer to be sent to Ranchi--his hometown-- rather than being shifted to some hospital.
The HC had on Wednesday directed that jail staff take him to JJ Hospital for examination.
The hospital report said Swamy was normal and responsive but had severe hearing loss, unbalanced gait, lower limb problem and general weakness.
“I was brought in healthy to Taloja jail eight months back but over that period all my body functions have deteriorated. I can’t eat on my own, can't bathe or walk on my own. Though I have been getting medicines it has not helped… I am unable to meet the demand of eating (they serve rotis in jail). Someone has to feed me through a spoon’’ Swamy said.
The bench said to Swamy, “your general health is deteriorating. Until your general health improves you could be at JJ Hospital…do you want to be admitted at JJ Hospital to improve your health?’’ He said, “No, I do not want to be. I would prefer to die here. I would prefer this (jail) rather than be admitted to the hospital.’’
He said there were “great economic inequalities’’ when court asked if he had any complaints regarding the prison.
Swamy's counsel Mihir Desai requested the court if he could speak to him directly online and suggested that he may be shifted to another hospital, like Holy Family in Bandra.
The court permitted Desai to speak. But to him too, Swamy conveyed his disinclination to be shifted to the hospital. He wished to be sent home.
The bench then expressed its helplessness in directing his hospitalisation and Desai sought time to argue his plea for bail on health grounds.
The matter was adjourned till June 7, but the HC permitted Desai to approach the court before that date if the Jesuit priest is convinced by then of being shifted to Holy Family hospital.
Last October, a special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Mumbai had rejected Swamy’s plea for bail on health grounds. He appealed against the rejection, before the HC in April.