SC seeks Dallewal's med report from Punjab

THE Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Punjab government for detailed medical reports and latest vitals of fasting farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal for an independent assessment of his medical condition by AIIMS, Delhi.

- SUCHITRA KALYAN MOHANTY @ New Delhi

"The Chief Secretary of Punjab is directed to handover the reports to the Registrar (Judicial) of the Supreme Court, who shall then obtain the medical opinion from the AIIMS Director," said the two-judge bench, led by Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh.

The top court wondered how that could be when senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the State of Punjab, informed the court that septuagenarian Dallewal's health parameters were "improving" even 49 days after beginning the fast.

"How can it be that a previous affidavit said his condition was deteriorating, whereas it is improving now," the bench asked. "He is stable now," Sibal then clarified.