Naval sailor produced in High Court, to be shifted to government hospital

The Kerala High Court today directed immediate shifting of a Naval sailor from a Naval hospital here to a government medical college hospital, on a petition by his wife who alleged efforts were on to establish that he was suffering from mental illness after he levelled corruption charges against some senior officers.

Sunil Kumar Sahu, a shipwright artificer at Eastern Naval Command's INS Kattabomman in Vijayanarayanam inTirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu, had been brought here and kept under observation at the INS Sanjivini.

Aarti Sahu, the sailor's wife, filed a petition in the court yesterday seeking to stop his treatment and to permit him to proceed on leave or shift him to a general hospital.

Alleging that her husband was being illegally kept in the Naval hospital here and efforts were being made to establish that he was suffering from mental illness, the petitioner wanted the treatment to be stopped immediately.

When the petition came up before the division bench, it was converted as a habeas corpus petition and the court directed Naval authroties to produce him in court by 3 pm.

Sahu was produced before the bench comprising Justice V K Mohanan and Justice K Harilal and was taken to the judges chamber for an examination by Dr Aniyamma, a psychiatrist of the General Hospital, Ernakulam.

Dr Aniyamma examined him and informed the court that prima facie he was alright. There was no abnormalities in his behaviour.

The bench said that for further examination by a panel of doctors, he should be shifted to the Medical College Hospital at nearby Kalamassery. The medical college authorities should examine him and file a report by November 5.