SC seeks Dallewal’s medical report: ‘How are his vitals improving?’

The court ordered that “the reports shall be submitted during the course of the day to” its “Registrar, Judicial…who shall then coordinate with the Director, AIIMS and obtain the opinion of the experts based upon such reports.”

During the previous hearing, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Punjab government, had told the court that the protesting farmers had agreed to meet the High-Powered Committee (HPC) constituted by the top court following which the bench adjourned the hearing till Wednesday.

On Wednesday, Sibal submitted that following the meeting with the committee, “some effective steps have taken place” and “there is a progress in the matter and…that the authorities are hopeful of a solution”. At the outset, Sibal said that there is a medical facility just 10 metres near the protest site now and that Dallewal’s parameters are “improving”.

The bench, however, wondered how his parameters could be improving when he had been on a fast for around 50 days.

Justice Kant pointed out that the state had previously filed an affidavit indicating that Dallewal’s parameters were deteriorating. “Where are the latest parameters? Last time some officers filed an affidavit (stating that his condition is deteriorating). Now you are saying that his parameters are improving? How can it happen? On one hand, you are saying your doctors are there 24×7, and your medical team is there, how are the parameters improving?”, he sought to know.

Sibal said Dallewal had “allowed us to test his blood and everything”. As the court again quizzed how he had made the submission that the farmer leader’s vitals are improving, he sought to clarify, “not improving, they are stable.” Sibal said he has the parameters given in the chief secretary’s report.

The bench then directed the state to give it a comparative chart of Dallewal’s vitals for the last 15 days. The court will next hear the matter on January 29.