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Wednesday, Jun 23, 2010
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Bench seeks report on lawyers' health

Staff Reporter

PIL alleges the arrested lawyers were being denied adequate medical care

MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court on Tuesday directed the Superintendents of the Central Prison and Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) here to file a report by Wednesday on the health condition of six lawyers who were arrested on June 18 after they began an indefinite fast inside the court buildings since June 9 demanding the use of Tamil in the High Court.

A Division Bench comprising Justice M. Chockalingam and Justice M. Duraiswamy passed the interim direction following a public interest litigation petition filed by A.K. Ramasamy, secretary of Madurai Bar Association, who appeared argued the case in Tamil. The judges, however, stuck to English.

Claiming that the health condition of the six lawyers was deteriorating day by day, the petitioner sought a direction to the officials to provide adequate medical treatment by utilising the services of medical experts in the field of Nephrology and other branches of medicine. He also urged the court to constitute a group of advocates to enquire about their health.

The petitioner also alleged that the lawyers were not provided with treatment inside the prison. They were not allowed to meet their friends and family members by citing Rule 693 of the Tamil Nadu Prison Manual which stated that usual concessions in the matter of interviews and letters would be withdrawn from prisoners who go on hunger strike.

Reacting to it, Mr. Justice Chockalingam said: “Now there are two issues. First, as long as the lawyers continue their fast, how will their health condition improve whatever be the treatment given to them? Secondly, as per the news we get, they are refusing treatment. Then, where is the question of proper treatment not being given? Answer these questions before going to the next step.”

Mr. Ramasamy replied that he would persuade the lawyers to give up their fast and accept the treatment if given an opportunity to meet them. Special Government Pleader V. Rajasekaran stated that five of the six lawyers were admitted in the GRH. C. Ezhilarasu, who went missing on June 18 and arrested on June 20, was lodged in the Central Prison.

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