Supreme Court Allows Abhishek Banerjee To Travel Abroad For Treatment Of His Eyes
Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and MP Abhishek Banerjee has been granted permission by the Supreme Court to go abroad for eye treatment for three weeks in September.
The decision came after Banerjee approached the Supreme Court challenging an earlier Calcutta High Court order that had denied him permission to travel overseas for medical treatment. The Supreme Court set aside the High Court’s order and granted him permission to travel.
The high court had stated that if Banerjee had appeared before the medical board and sought an evaluation from medical professionals regarding the necessity of receiving treatment abroad, the case might have been taken into consideration.
The High Court while dismissing his appeal stated, “In view of submission made on behalf of the applicant (Banerjee) that applicant will not appear before the medical board at SSKM Hospital, Kolkata, this court finds the issue which is agitated before this court by filing application… ought not to be kept pending further.”
On August 3, the Supreme Court ordered the Calcutta High Court to review Banerjee’s request for authorization to go overseas for eye care within a week.
The permission has been issued in the context of what he allegedly said during a public meeting before the West Bengal Assembly elections against leaders and workers of an opposition party. In the case’s proceedings, he had asked to be taken abroad but this had been denied.
The Supreme Court’s order permits Banerjee to travel for the above mentioned period of three weeks during September so that he can get the eye treatment. The trip is subject to conditions set by the court, including conditions regarding travel documents and travel itinerary, reports said.
In the new order, Banerjee is granted interim protection from arrest and to get medical treatment outside India in the case. The interim relief was prolonged by the court until October 6 or until further orders were issued, whichever came first. Additionally, it stated that although no date had been set, Banerjee’s request to have the terms of the interim protection modified would be heard in August.