Delhi HC Rejects Chidambaram's Plea For Treatment In AIIMS Private Ward

The Delhi High Court on Friday  ordered that there is no need to admit P Chidambaram to a sterilised private ward at AIIMS. The court further passed a series of directions for Tihar Superintendent to ensure clean and hygienic environment for the applicant. 

The former Union Finance Minister is currently lodged in Tihar jail in the case registered by ED on money laundering allegations in INX Media case. His judicial custody was extended till November 13 by the Special CBI Court, Delhi on Wednesday.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had produced the medical report before the court and said that Chidambaram was physically examined by the medical board today morning. 

Justice Suresh Kumar Kait directed the jail superintendent to ensure that surroundings of Chidambaram should be clean and hygienic, he should be provided with home cooked food and clean mineral water. He also directed for mosquito nets and masks to be provided to the applicant. 

The court also directed regular monitoring of his blood pressure and weekly OPD check ups. 

A representative doctor from the Board constituted at AIIMS presented the report before the court wherein the opinion on Chidambaram's admission to a sterilized private ward was mentioned.

The Board had opined in the report that the admission in a sterilised private ward is not required in the present case. All that Chidambaram requires is a clean and hygienic environment, protection from mosquitoes, clean mineral water and home cooked food. Moreover, he should be provided with masks and his surroundings should be cleansed twice a day. 

The Board had also advised weekly blood tests, OPD visits and oral intake of steroids.  

According to the Board's report, sterilised private ward is recommended for seriously ill patients, and the applicant's condition doesn't qualify for the same. After examining the applicant, the board noted Chidambaram's vitals to be at normal levels. 

On Thursday, the court had directed that a Board should be constituted at AIIMS and Dr Nageshwar Reddy should be a part of it. The Board was then supposed to give its report on admission of Chidambaram in the sterilised private ward of AIIMS. 

It was also ordered that once the report is prepared by the Board, the same would be provided to the SG Tushar Mehta who would then produce it before the court for further orders. 

The former Finance Minister had moved an application for interim bail as he wanted to get examined by Dr. D. Nageshwar Reddy at the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Hyderabad, for his acute and persistent abdominal pain due to Crohn's disease which was diagnosed in 2017

During the proceedings on Thursday, Solicitor General had submitted that Chidambaram was examined by Dr Ahuja of AIIMS, who's an expert on Crohn's disease. Dr Ahuja also had a conversation with Dr Reddy, on the request of the applicant, where the latter had informed the former that the line of treatment undertaken is alright. 

Appearing on behalf of Chidambaram, Mr Kapil Sibal had asked the court to at least shift Chidambaram to a sterilised private ward at AIIMS. He said:

'It's not the quality of doctors that I dispute. It's the environment that I'm concerned about'.