MUMBAI: After the state government on Monday informed that the Thane deputy collector was under pressure to give a report similar to the medical report on the ailing husband of a former MP, Bombay high court directed that instead a court official shall visit him.
A bench of Justices Amjad Sayed and Madhav Jamdar heard a petition by Rajkumari Ratna Singh and her two children to appoint them legal guardians of her husband Jaisingh Sisodia and caretaker of his properties. Singh was thrice Congress MP from Uttar Pradesh. Sisodia is descendant of a royal family in Rajasthan and is under treatment at a rehabilitation centre. On February 17, the HC directed HOD (Psychiatry), Thane Civil Hospital, to submit a report on Sisodia’s physical and mental condition and the deputy collector on his response to the petition.
Noticing that the medical report was by a psychiatrist/deputy superintendent of the Regional Mental Hospital, they raised eyebrows at its “last line” which said Sisodia will require a guardian. Government pleader Poornima Kantharia said she would take instructions on it. “This is disturbing. There is something more than meets the eye. You are a doctor. Limit yourself to your expertise,’’she said.
The judges said according to the report, Sisodia is admitted in the Mental Hospital. But Singh’s advocate Ashok Saraogi explained that the rehab centre is assigned a medical seat and doctors from the Mental Hospital are deputed to work in it. In their order, the judges said, “Prima facie, we find that the said report is not in tune with the February 17, 2021 order passed by us.”
Kantharia said the deputy collector was unable to meet Sisodia who had been for medical appointment. Also, a call was received by him to give a similar report on lines of the medical report as it relates to the MP and royal family. “Pressurising tactics should not be used. Don’t pressurise officers,’ she said. Justice Sayed said, “That is why we are appointing a court officer to visit him.” The HC officer has to submit a report on March 8, 2021.
A bench of Justices Amjad Sayed and Madhav Jamdar heard a petition by Rajkumari Ratna Singh and her two children to appoint them legal guardians of her husband Jaisingh Sisodia and caretaker of his properties. Singh was thrice Congress MP from Uttar Pradesh. Sisodia is descendant of a royal family in Rajasthan and is under treatment at a rehabilitation centre. On February 17, the HC directed HOD (Psychiatry), Thane Civil Hospital, to submit a report on Sisodia’s physical and mental condition and the deputy collector on his response to the petition.
Noticing that the medical report was by a psychiatrist/deputy superintendent of the Regional Mental Hospital, they raised eyebrows at its “last line” which said Sisodia will require a guardian. Government pleader Poornima Kantharia said she would take instructions on it. “This is disturbing. There is something more than meets the eye. You are a doctor. Limit yourself to your expertise,’’she said.
The judges said according to the report, Sisodia is admitted in the Mental Hospital. But Singh’s advocate Ashok Saraogi explained that the rehab centre is assigned a medical seat and doctors from the Mental Hospital are deputed to work in it. In their order, the judges said, “Prima facie, we find that the said report is not in tune with the February 17, 2021 order passed by us.”
Kantharia said the deputy collector was unable to meet Sisodia who had been for medical appointment. Also, a call was received by him to give a similar report on lines of the medical report as it relates to the MP and royal family. “Pressurising tactics should not be used. Don’t pressurise officers,’ she said. Justice Sayed said, “That is why we are appointing a court officer to visit him.” The HC officer has to submit a report on March 8, 2021.
