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Depute three specialists to treat fasting POTA detenus: High Court

By Our Staff Reporter

CHENNAI, SEPT. 9. The Madras High Court today ordered that three specialists be deputed to the Chennai Central Prison, to ascertain the health condition of 11 Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) detenus, who are on fast demanding the repeal of the Act with retrospective effect.

While seven of them have been on a hunger-strike since August 26, four more joined them on September 3.

A Division Bench, comprising Justice Prafulla Kumar Misra and Justice K.P. Sivasubramaniam, hearing a habeas corpus petition seeking to admit the fasting detenus in the Government Hospital for better treatment, said, "we feel that a team consisting of three specialists selected by the Dean of the Madras Medical College shall visit the jail and examine the prisoners concerned and submit a report by 10.30 a.m. on September 13."

In the mean time, the judges said, "if it is felt by the jail authorities that the prisoners required immediate treatment they may be admitted to the jail hospital or even in the Government General Hospital, depending upon circumstances. The jail authorities are also free to requisition the services of specialists." On September 7, the Bench had directed the jail doctor to submit a report on the condition of the fasting prisoners, and also asked XIV Metropolitan Magistrate who visited them in the jail to send his report to the High Court.

In his petition, advocate G. Hari Babu had stated that the condition of two detenus was critical. He said the prison hospital was not adequately equipped to handle such emergencies.

`No necessity'

In his report, the Superintendent of the Chennai Central Prison contended that intra-veinous fluid was being administered to the fasting detenus "as and when required from August 26." Though food, as approved by the prison medical officer is given to the prisoners and replaced periodically, "it is not consumed by them."

Stating that no necessity had arisen for "force-feeding" the prisoners, he said, "main intention of the petitioner is to get the detenus out of the prison for publicity purposes."

He described the detenus as members of the People's War and said it was not conducive to transfer them to the Government Hospital. He said their present health condition was "fair/good, and hence admitting them to the GH deserves no consideration."

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