The Bombay High Court today directed Nagpur prison authorities to admit suspended Delhi University professor G N Saibaba, arrested for alleged Maoist links, to a hospital of his choice for treatment.
Saibaba, who suffers from neurological ailments, is wheelchair-bound.
The division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice A K Menon have taken suo motu (on its own) cognisance of a letter written by the activist Purnima Upadhyay highlighting the deteriorating health of Saibaba in Nagpur jail where he is lodged since his arrest last year.
On the court's directions, he was last week taken to private Neuron hospital in Nagpur for treatment.
Saibaba's lawyer Vijay Hiremath today said he was taken to Neuron hospital only for a check-up, and the doctors there said the hospital was not equipped to treat him.
Hiremath said that while the court had directed that only two policemen should escort Saibaba during the visit and allow his family members to meet him, there were around 10 police officials with him and family members were not allowed to meet him.
Irked, the high court directed the jail authorities to permit Saibaba to meet his family today. It said Saibaba and his relatives can discuss and decide which private hospital he wants to be admitted to.
The jail authorities shall then shift Saibaba to the hospital of his choice where he shall receive treatment.
The matter would be heard next on June 26.
