AIIMS report says Asaram needs round-the-clock caregivers, not hospitalisation; SC defers hearing

New Delhi, Aug 4 (SocialNews.XYZ) The Supreme Court on Tuesday took on record a medical report filed by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), stating that self-styled godman and rape convict Asaram Bapu does not require hospitalisation but would need round-the-clock assistance from trained caregivers, in connection with his plea seeking interim bail on medical grounds.

A bench of Justices M.M. Sundresh and P.B. Varale examined the report submitted by the AIIMS medical board and observed: "The first part of the report says that hospitalisation is not required. Then it talks about round-the-clock (medical attention). We will keep it (for hearing) the day after."

The matter was thereafter adjourned to Thursday after the apex court was informed that Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Rajasthan government, was unavailable.

According to the AIIMS report, Asaram suffers from multiple medical conditions, including coronary artery disease, osteoporosis, chronic hyponatremia, thalassemia and recurrent gastrointestinal episodes involving blood loss.

However, it concluded that he does not require hospitalisation but would need round-the-clock assistance from trained caregivers.

On July 21, the Supreme Court had directed the Director of AIIMS to constitute a specialised medical board to conduct a comprehensive medical examination of Asaram and submit a report within a week regarding whether he required hospitalisation or could be treated through periodic medication.

Passing the order, the Justice Sundresh-led Bench had recorded the consensus between the parties and said that the AIIMS Director would constitute "a team of doctors, being expert in various fields, to do a thorough medical examination and comprehensive evaluation of the petitioner, after which they would submit a report as to whether there is a need for the petitioner to be admitted for the purpose of receiving treatment or the same can be given to him by way of periodic medication".

The apex court had made it clear during the previous hearing that it was not inclined to consider Asaram's request for interim bail without an independent medical assessment.

Appearing for Asaram, senior advocates Dama Seshadri Naidu and Devadatt Kamat had sought constitution of a specialised AIIMS medical team to evaluate his health condition.

Solicitor General Mehta, representing the Rajasthan government, had opposed the plea, questioning the genuineness of the medical claims and contending that Asaram had recently travelled to Ayodhya and Kashi Vishwanath despite claiming serious illness.

Earlier, on June 30, the Supreme Court had issued notice to the Rajasthan government on Asaram's special leave petition (SLP) challenging the Rajasthan High Court judgment upholding his conviction and life sentence in the 2013 minor rape case. However, it had declined interim relief at that stage.

Asaram has challenged the Rajasthan High Court's May 27 judgment affirming his conviction and life sentence awarded by a Special POCSO Court in the 2013 case involving the sexual assault of a minor student.

Following the High Court verdict, Asaram, who had been out on interim medical bail, surrendered before the Jodhpur Central Jail on May 28 after undergoing a medical examination. The case relates to allegations that a minor student of Asaram's Chhindwara Gurukul was sexually assaulted inside his cottage at the Manai Ashram on the night of August 15, 2013. The Special POCSO Court in Jodhpur convicted Asaram on April 25, 2018, and sentenced him to life imprisonment. He is also serving a life sentence in another sexual assault case involving a woman disciple at his Gandhinagar ashram in Gujarat.

Source: IANS