Patna HC directs govt to fix date for sending Shahabuddin to AIIMS

Patna, May 23 (UNI) The Patna High Court today directed the Bihar government to inform it about a convenient date for sending incarcerated RJD MP Md Shahabuddin for his follow-up treatment at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) without affecting the trials regarding various criminal cases pending against him.

While hearing a complaint petition of the controversial MP, a division bench of the court comprising Justices Shivkirti Singh and Jay Nandan Singh directed the government to inform the bench about the date by June 23.

The court also asked the government to inform about the convenient date so that the trial of the criminal cases pending against Md Shahabuddin at the special court should not get affected.

Through the complaint petition, Md Shahabuddin drew the attention of the court towards the ''lackadaisical'' attitude of the Bihar government, saying the government did not permit him for his follow -up treatment at the AIIMS.

The petition of the MP said while refusing to send him for the follow-up treatment, the government had mentioned the cause that once he was out of Siwan Jail and camped at AIIMS in New Delhi, the trial of the cases would be hampered.

Earlier, Md Shahabuddin was escorted by Bihar police to AIIMS in 2006 for treatment of spinal injuries. The MP was supposed to go there for follow-up treatment after every three months.

However, since he came back to Siwan Jail in the same year, he had not been sent to AIIMS by the Bihar government for the follow-up treatment.

Md Shahabuddin, currently lodged in Siwan Jail, had been awarded imprisonment ranging from one year to life in various criminal cases.

Of the total 51 cases, eight had been disposed of, while the regular trial in other cases was underway.

He was facing cases related to Arms Act, Wildlife Protection Act, theft, abduction, murder, treasson and for keeping prohibitiry goods, including that of night surveillence device, possessed specially by the Army and Pakistan-made cartridges.

UNI XC-RS-KKS SJC SP BST1812