Apollo to submit report on treatment to Jayalalithaa

The first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice M Sundar on granting four weeks to the State and Centre to file their counters on the PIL, expressed displeasure over the string of PILs being filed over Jayalalithaa’s death. 

Noting that the hospital is also in a piquant situation, as it concerned patient details with aspects of privacy creeping in, the bench also observed that the absence of an immediate family member in Jayalalithaa’s case complicated the issue a bit. However, it acknowledged the submission of Senior Advocate PS Raman, representing Apollo Hospital, that a complete discharge summary of Jayalalithaa would be submitted to the court in a sealed cover. 

Also, the bench on responding to senior counsel KM Vijayan’s submission that people were worried about the secrecy surrounding Jayalalithaa’s death and that her leg was amputated during treatment prior to her death, sought to know the source of this information. 

The bench also noted that three aspects— the locus standi of the petitioner, the specific doubts regarding the medical treatment given to Jayalalithaa and the quantum of details that can be placed in public domain pertaining to a public servant must be looked into while dealing with the plea. 

However, the bench dismissed the plea moved by social activist Traffic Ramaswamy after holding that “We see no purpose in entertaining a spate of petitions on the same cause. It is rather peculiar that the petitioner who has been a standing opponent to the later chief minister feel so concerned about her demise.”