In a significant order, the Bombay HC directed that prisoners complaining of ailments should be treated in govt hospitals as far as possible.
Influential prisoners can no longer seek refuge in corporate hospitals; govt will offer treatment first.
MUMBAI: Influential prisoners will no longer have the privilege of checking into plush private hospitals during their jail term. In a significant order, the Bombay high court on Tuesday directed that prisoners complaining of medical ailments should be treated in government hospitals as far as possible.
Justice SC Dharmadhikari gave the direction while hearing the bail plea of Sharad Teredesai, who was accused in a fraud of Rs10 crore but had secured bail on medical grounds and kept extending it for over 18 months. He surrendered on July 17 after his bail expired and was admitted to JJ Hospital after he complained of chest pain on July 19. He has now sought bail to get a fresh angiography done.
Opposing Teredesai’s bail, public prosecutor Satish Borulkar drew the court’s attention to the common ploy of affluent prisoners, who get admitted to private hospitals the moment they are arrested to avoid the rigours of jail.
Justice Dharmadhikari said that in case a prisoner complains of sickness prison authorities must take him/her to a government hospital. If the government hospital does not have the required facilities, then the prisoner should be taken to a municipal hospital. Only if the procedure or facility is not available at the municipal hospital should the prisoner be taken to a private hospital.
Borulkar also suggested that when a prisoner is admitted to hospital on the basis of a doctor’s certificate, the doctor must be asked to file an affidavit in the court so that he can be held accountable. Finally, the judge granted Teredesai temporary bail, but asked the head of the cardiology department of JJ Hospital to submit a report on his condition by September 12.
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