The National Human Rights Commission on Sunday issued a notice to the Maharashtra government, noting the worsening health condition of tri...
The National Human Rights Commission on Sunday issued a notice to the Maharashtra government, noting the worsening health condition of tribal rights activist Stan Swamy. He had been in jail for nine months in connection with the Bhima Koregaon case.
The 84-year-old activist, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, was put on ventilator support on Sunday morning at the Holy Family Hospital in Mumbai. In May, Swamy had tested positive for Covid-19 after being shifted to the hospital on the Bombay High Court’s orders. The court had later extended his hospital stay till July 5 as he needed extensive care.
The NHRC notice on Sunday directed the Maharashtra government to ensure that all possible efforts were made to provide healthcare facilities to him “as part of life saving measure[s] and protection of his basic human rights”.
The human rights commission also sought a report on allegations against the Taloja jail authorities over the treatment provided to Swamy. The commission asked for the report to be filed within four weeks.
“Earlier, the commission had received a complaint on 16th May, 2021 that FR [Father] Stan Swamy (aged 84 years), lodged in Taloja Central Jail, Navi Mumbai was being denied medical facility during the Covid-19 period,” the notice said. “It was also alleged that he had not been vaccinated yet and that...
