Shift PPP chairman to Delhi for treatment: medical board

Srinagar, Nov 25 (UNI) A medical board of SMHS hospital today recommended to the government to shift the ailing Peoples Political Party (PPP) chairman Hilal Ahmad War, detained under Public Safety Act (PSA), to Delhi for further treatment.

A spokesman for the PPP said War was produced before the medical board at SMHS hospital from central jail today.

The board, after examining War, recommended that he should be shifted to Delhi since he requires a special treatment which was not available here.

War was produced before the medical board following directions by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court asking authorities to indicate steps they had taken to discharge their obligation in providing requisite medical care to him.

The next date of hearing in the court has been fixed for December 2.

The court, during the previous hearing, had directed the District Magistrate, Srinagar, and Superintendent of jail, who had appeared in person before it, to give full details about the steps taken for treating War.

War, arrested on July 26,2008 at Maisuma for his alleged anti national activities, has moved an application before the court seeking direction to state and its functionaries for referring him to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi for treatment of his eye and kidney ailments.

The court, in its earlier order, had said that the respondents were afforded opportunity to file objections to this application.

They, it said, have opted not to respond to it.

The petitioner's application is supported by certificates issued by government SMHS hospital which strengthens his submission that he has been suffering from kidney stone and retinal detachment.

The court had said that it hardly needs to be emphasized that when a person is in the custody of the state, it is required to take requisite measures to ensure that proper treatment, if needed, is made available to him.

UNI BAS SB GC1630