Image Courtesy:mattersindia.com
In a special hearing today, the Bombay High Court has allowed the 84-year-old Father Stan Swamy, accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, to be shifted to Holy Family Hospital for two weeks in order to treat him for his various debilitating ailments. Once the court reopens after the summer break on June 6, it will hear the priest’s bail application.
On May 25, Father Stan had submitted an affidavit, in which he informed the court that on May 24 he suffered major tremors due to Parkinson’s and was taken to JJ Hospital for a check-up. He stated that due to this episode, he is convinced that it is best for him to be admitted to Holy Family hospital for treatment.
Since he needs assistance to undertake daily activities, he requested the court that he be given two attendants, arranged by Mumbai’s Father Fraser (Retired Principal of St. Xavier’s College) to stay with him at the hospital. Lastly, his affidavit read, “Ideally I feel looking at my deteriorating health I should be granted medical bail or at least allowed to return to Ranchi and if required kept under house arrest. However, in the meanwhile, my being shifted to Holy Family Hospital will do good to my mental and physical health.”
Last week, Father Stan, through his lawyer, had moved the High court with a medical note about his deteriorating health condition since he has been arrested and lodged in Taloja jail. The medical note stated that he was unwell with a cough, fever, an upset stomach, weakness and that his advanced stages of Parkinson’s disease impairs him from accomplishing basic and essential daily tasks such as eating, drinking water and bathing, without the assistance of fellow inmates.
The note had also mentioned that he was prescribed an antipsychotic drug called Ole-5 by the prison medical staff which is used in the treatment of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and mania, albeit he has never been diagnosed with these illnesses.
The Bench of Justices SJ Kathawalla and Surendra Tavade had then directed Taloja jail to set up a video call with Father Stan on May 21 and also directed the Dean of JJ Hospital to constitute a committee of doctors including a neuro-physician, ENT, orthopaedic physician, general physician and other doctors to submit a report on Father Stan’s health.
The court had noted Father Stan’s submission and even asked him if he would prefer being shifted to JJ Hospital or any other hospital of his choice but he had refused hospitalisation and urged for medical bail and be allowed to go to Ranchi, Jharkhand.
Father Swamy’s affidavit may be read here:
The order may be read here:
Related:
Father Stan Swamy to remain in Taloja jail till June 7
Bombay HC sets up video call with Father Stan Swamy on May 21
Father Stan Swamy finally gets first Covid shot, health continues to deteriorate in jail