The Madras High Court has dismissed a petition seeking information on the health of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. It came up before a Madras High Court bench comprising of Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice R Mahadevan. The court observed that it was a petition meant for publicity.
Citing the reasons for dismissal, the High Court said it was not a public interest petition and that it was filed for publicity and for political reasons. The court also observed that seeking photographic proof of Jayalalithaa’s treatment is not justified.
The PIL was filed by social activist Traffic Ramaswamy seeking the “real” status of the CM’s health on Monday.
On Tuesday, Ramaswamy had approached the High Court after his petition had not been listed that day and urged the court to take up the matter immediately as it was of utmost importance.
The Division Bench of Justice MM Sundresh and R Mahadevan then observed that people of Tamil Nadu are anxious about her health and had asked the government pleader to get back on the details regarding her health after consulting the government. The bench had also added, "Though the hospital authorities have issued some statements, the government is duty bound to provide the status of her health."
Ramaswamy, in his petition, stated that there were several rumours around Jayalalithaa’s health since her hospitalisation on September 22 and despite Governor Vidyasagar Rao and Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan visiting her on separate occasions, there were no details with regard to her health or treatment.
His plea before the court included wanting it to direct officials in the government and Apollo Hospitals to furnish details about the Chief Minister’s health with substantial material proofs. He also wanted the court to direct the Principal Secretary to the Governor to appoint an interim Chief Minister.