Supreme Court allows Gautam Navlakha to get treated at private hospital

The Supreme Court on September 28 granted writer and activist Gautam Navlakha (73) permission to get treatment at a private hospital. Navlakha has been in jail since August 2018 in connection with the Bhima Koregaon/Elgaar Parishad case.

The direction came following an appeal by Navlakha to be shifted out of jail on health grounds and kept under house arrest.

After the Bombay High Court rejected his appeal for house arrest in April, Navlakha took his case to the Supreme Court where he asked to be shifted to his sister’s home and be placed under house arrest in order to undergo treatment for various ailments.

A Bench comprising Justices K.M. Joseph and Hrishikesh Roy said in their order: “Having heard the counsel for parties, we are of the view that receiving medical treatment would be a fundamental right. We direct that the petitioner be taken immediately for a thorough medical check-up.” Navlakha will remain in police custody.