New Delhi: Tihar Jail authorities have been ordered by the Delhi High Court to offer immediate medical care for separatist leader Yasin Malik, who is serving life imprisonment for terrorism charges.
Malik, who has been said to have embarked on a hunger strike since 1 st of November, said he was suffering from severe cardiac and renal complications. His legal counsel argued that Malik should be rushed to the hospital because his condition had worsened.
Justice Anoop Kumar Mendiratta, acting for the Centre, the Delhi government, and the Tihar Jail authorities, sent them notices. They made them provide a health status report regarding Malik’s health condition. The court also directed that the jail superintendent cause to be made such medical attention as may be required according to the regulations.
About Malik’s application for bail, counsel stated that his client was in a “life and death situation” and said that his health had greatly declined; further, previous applications for adequate medical treatment have been ignored.
Malik, who was arrested and charged with terror activities and was sentenced in May this year under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code, is charged with life imprisonment. After the conviction had been made, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) appealed to enhance the punishment given to him with the death penalty.
During his defense, he detailed various ailments and proceeded to tell the court that he had not received proper medical attention from the authorities. He said that he has severe health complications, yet he has not been provided with medical attention or taken to the hospital whenever needed and even when his presence is required in court. He accused them of negligence, which he said had resulted to loss of a lot of weight and more complications.
The matter will be further heard on November 11.
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