New Delhi, 20 December
The Supreme Court has left the decision to hospitalize the farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been fasting for the past 24 days, to the officials and doctors of the Punjab government. A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice Ujal Bhuiyan said that Dallewal’s health care is the responsibility of the Punjab government. The Supreme Court has sought reports from the Punjab Chief Secretary and health officials on Dallewal’s medical condition by January 2. The bench said that the state government can approach the court if necessary. The bench said that the 70-year-old Dallewal can be shifted to a temporary hospital set up within 700 meters from the sit-in site on the Khanuri border of Punjab and Haryana.
Advocate General Gurminder Singh, represented by the Punjab government, submitted the Chief Secretary’s affidavit to the court regarding the medical condition of the Kisan leader. Singh said that forcibly removing the farmer leader from the protest site may cause shock and worsen the situation. On this, the bench said that the authorities should continue efforts to persuade Dallewal to seek medical help.
Earlier, the Supreme Court had asked during the hearing today that the Punjab government should transfer Dallewal to a temporary hospital near the Khanuri border, where his health can be monitored 24 hours a day. The bench asked Advocate General Gurminder Singh to file an affidavit today regarding the transfer of the 70-year-old leader to a temporary hospital near the protest site on the Khanuri border. Singh told the bench during the hearing that the farmer leader is providing support for ECG and blood test and many other tests. Singh said that Dallewal’s health is stable recently. The Supreme Court had also asked the Punjab government to arrange a medical examination for Dallewal. The bench had pulled the Punjab government for not conducting the medical test of the farmer leader. The bench had also suggested that Dallewal be temporarily removed from his fast for medical assistance and replaced by someone else. The bench also gave the example of civil rights activist Erom Sharmila. -News-Patiala
