A city court on Monday turned down the plea of jailed former Haryana Chief Minister OP Chautala, who is serving sentence in a graft case, to undergo pacemaker implantation at a private hospital instead of a Government facility. While rejecting his plea, Special CBI Judge Manu Rai Sethi directed the jail superintendent to get the 78-year-old INlD leader referred to RMl Hospital saying it has all the infrastructure and facilities required for his treatment.
Chautala, who is in jail after being sentenced to 10-year imprisonment in the teacher recruitment scam, along with his MlA son Ajay Chautala, has been complaining of ill-health post his conviction. Chautala’s counsel had urged the court to allow his client to get a pacemaker installed at a private heart institute at his own expense as he was suffering from various ailments and requires a multi-disciplinary hospital for treatment and that the Government hospitals do not have such facilities.
At this the court had called for reports from AIIMS, RMl and G B Pant hospitals by on Monday regarding availability of infrastructure and possibility of appropriate treatment being accorded to the Chautala. While GB Pant had said it can only provide general medicare, RMl and AIIMS had said they have the facilities for treatment for various cardiac ailments.
While agreeing with his counsel’s submission that Chautala is entitled to proper treatment for his ailments, the court said that “report from RMl makes it evident that all facilities and infrastructure required for treatment of the applicant (Chautala) are available there.” The court directed jail superintendent to get Chautala referred to RMl hospital for treatment and if required, for hospitalisation and make adequate ambulance facility for his transit. The court also directed that he be provided adequate security during his stay at the hospital. The judge also allowed one family member to stay with Chautala at the hospital after consultation with the medical superintendent.