Supreme Court: Take Navlakha to hospital of his choice

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed that Bhima Koregaon case accused and human rights activist Gautam Navlakha be taken to a hospital of his choice immediately for a thorough medical check-up, keeping in view his bad health.
A bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice KM Joseph and also comprising Justice Hrishikesh Roy, which had issued notice to the NIA in the case two days ago, passed the order after hearing the petition filed by the ailing 73-year-old, Navlakha, seeking transfer to house arrest from jail.
The Top Court will now consider his plea next on October 21. The SC asked the hospital concerned to submit a report based on his check-up.
The 73-year-old human rights activist, who was arrested in August 2018 and has been in custody ever since. Navlakha has approached the Supreme Court after the Bombay High Court rejected his prayer. He stated that he is suffering from serious ailments, including skin allergy and dental issues, and cited the need to undergo colonoscopy test suspected.
Navlakha in his petition, also requested that he be shifted to his sister’s house and be placed under house arrest there.
“We are of the view that, noting that petitioner (Navlakha) is an undertrial, and that the right of an undertrial to receive medical attention would be a fundamental right. Thereby, we pass an order directing the petitioner to be taken immediately for a thorough medical checkup,” the Supreme Court said, in its order Thursday.
It also added that there will be a direction to the Superintendent of Taloja Jail at Mumbai to take the petitioner immediately to the hospital of his choice so that the petitioner is enabled to undergo the requisite medical checkup and to receive treatment. We make it clear that the petitioner will necessarily remain in police custody. (UNI)