The Hindu : Front Page : Murder convict to be hospitalised

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Saturday, Aug 18, 2007
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Murder convict to be hospitalised

Staff Reporter

“He was under treatment for schizophrenia even in judicial custody”

To be lodged in Psychiatry Department
Parents may visit him once a week

MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Friday permitted a murder case convict, K. Selva Vijayan, suffering from schizophrenia to be admitted to Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) here.

A fast track court here had sentenced him to life imprisonment for killing his colleague, Saleem Basha, on March 15, 2006. According to the prosecution, the murder took place at a ‘papad’ making unit because the deceased sought an explanation from the accused for not being punctual to work.

Passing interim orders on an appeal filed by the convict, a Division Bench, comprising Justice S.R. Singharavelu and Justice T. Sudanthiram, said that he shall be lodged in Psychiatry Department for treatment until further orders. His parents could visit him once in a week with prior permission of the head of the department.

The judges preferred not to rely on an “ambiguous” opinion given by an Assistant Professor in psychiatry with the GRH who filed his report after examining the convict as per court orders passed on July 12. “We are not satisfied with the report filed by this doctor. On the one hand, he admits that the convict was taking treatment in the hospital (GRH) since April 1999 and on the other he says the victim is alright now. How is it possible? ” Mr. Justice Sudanthiram asked the Additional Public Prosecutor.

The convict’s counsel contended that his client was undergoing treatment at the GRH for more than eight years as an outpatient. Another psychiatrist with the hospital had certified that he was suffering from ‘Psychosis schizophrenia,’ the counsel said and added that the convict was under treatment even when he was in judicial custody in the case.

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