The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered that 1984 anti-Sikh riot convict Sajjan Kumar be presented before the AIIMS Hospital board, which will decide whether the former Congress leader needs to admitted for medical treatment.
Apex court bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde and comprising Justices B R Gavai and Surya Kant gave the directions while hearing an urgent bail plea filed by Kumar contending that he is unwell and lost a lot of weight since his imprisonment.
Kumar, who is the main accused in a case pertaining to the killing of five members of a family in Raj Nagar area of the national capital during the 1984 riots, was convicted on December 17, 2018 by a Delhi court and was awarded a life term.
Kumar’s counsel Vikas Singh appearing apprised the court today that his client is suffering from cancer and needs immediate medical attention.
“The bench directs that Sajjan Kumar needs to be examined and hence he may be produced before board of AIIMs doctor for examination and after examination the doctors may decide whether he should be admitted for further treatment and whether hospitalisation is necessary for a particular duration.”
The court has sought a report from AIIMS authorities within one week.
Kumar, 74, in his bail plea contended that he has been in jail since December 2018 and has lost 8-10 kilograms since then.
Arguing against Kumar’s plea Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that on December 10, 2019 a team of doctors from AIIMS had submitted Kumar’s medical report which stated that his condition is normal and that he only needs to maintain a healthy diet routine.
There was no malignancy at that time,he added.
However, considering Kumar’s age and recent weight loss the chief justice said, “He (Sajjan Kumar) is constantly losing weight and a private doctor says that he needs an institutional care so he can admitted to AIIMS for a week. He is an old man now.”