Delhi HC asks Tihar to provide proper treatment to Yasin Malik

The Delhi High Court on Friday directed the Tihar Jail authorities to provide appropriate medical treatment to separatist leader Yasin Malik, who is serving a life sentence in a terror case. Justice Neena Bansal Krishna noted that according to the report of Tihar Jail, apparently Malik does not seem to be suffering from any life-threatening ailment, and said that in case the medical treatment as per his condition is not available in the prison, it will be provided to him in the hospitals where such a facility is available.

“The petitioner in support of his petition has annexed medical documents of 2017. Apparently from the report received from Tihar Jail, it does not seem that he is suffering from any life-threatening ailment,” the court said. It added that “the petition is disposed of with direction to the jail authorities to provide appropriate medical treatment as per his condition and in case the said treatment is not available there, the same may be provided in the hospitals having the requisite facility”.

The high court passed the order while disposing of Malik’s petition seeking medical care and that his treatment be done at AIIMS or any other super-specialty hospital in Delhi or Srinagar. During the hearing, his counsel submitted that Malik is a cardiac patient and there is no cardiologist in Tihar Jail, and he should be taken to AIIMS for his treatment. The counsel for the central government, on the other hand, contended that Malik is a high-risk prisoner and a fresh communication has been issued by the authorities, restricting his movement from Tihar Jail and the jurisdiction of the national capital.