Notice to RIMS chief over no medical report

RANCHI: The Jharkhand high court (HC) on Friday issued a show cause notice to the director of state’s premier hospital--Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS)--for not submitting medical report of incarcerated Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad despite the court’s repeated orders.

Expressing its displeasure, the bench of Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh sought an explanation from RIMS’ director and granted him a last opportunity to furnish the report by February 19, the next date of hearing.

On Friday, the state counsel informed the court that Prasad was recently shifted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, after his health condition deteriorated further at RIMS. A medical board was then constituted and based on the board’s recommendation, he was shifted to AIIMS.

The bench, however, observed that the conditions under which Prasad was shifted to AIIMS could only be known from the medical report. “But, why the RIMS id not furnishing the medical report is difficult to understand. The court has been asking for the same for last two hearings. Earlier too, a direction was issued to RIMS to submit Prasad’s health report every month. But, the hospital authorities are not complying with the orders, which is a serious matter,” the bench said.

Prasad, serving imprisonment after conviction in different fodder scam cases, had been undergoing treatment for more than two years at RIMS in Ranchi. In August last year, he was shifted to the hospital’s director’s bungalow in purportedly due to spread of Covid-19 for two months, after which he was shifted to the hospital’s paying ward in October.

Prasad’s shifting to the director’s bungalow, however, led to a controversy, as it was alleged that he had violated provisions of the jail manual to avail such facilities, which were not available for a prisoner.

Taking note of the same, the HC had questioned the state government and wanted to know under what provisions Prasad was provided these “extra” facilities.

The inspector general (IG), prison, had then filed a reply, stating that the hospital management had shifted Prasad to bungalow to prevent him from the contagion. The jail manual doesn’t clarify as to what different facilities would be available for a prisoner who is undergoing treatment in custody outside jail, the IG’s report said.

“It is also silent on whether such ailing prisoners would get helpers. There is no SOP for this as well. The government is in the process to bring changes in jail manual and preparing a SOP also,” the IG’s report read.

However, after court’s intervention, the state government prepared a SOP, which was sent to the home department for the still awaited final approval.

Hospital authorities are not complying with orders, which is a serious matter.

HIGH COURT, bench of Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh