By Matters India Reporter
Mumbai: Jesuit social activist Father Stan Swamy will have to wait until December 4 for a straw and a sipper cup he needs as a patient of Parkinson’s disease.
The National Investigation Agency or the NIA on November 26 told a special court in Mumbai that it had not taken the straw and sipper when they arrested Father Swamy on October 8 from his residence near Ranchi, capital of Jharkhand state.
Father Swamy November 7 moved the NIA special court for permission to use a straw and sipper cup to drink since his hands shiver uncontrollably because of the disease.
NIA sought 20 days’ time to respond to the request. The court, which must grant permission for materials to be sent from outside jail premises, then posted the matter for hearing next on November 26.
“Stan Swamy was never taken to NIA custody so we never had any of his belongings. He was sent to judicial custody straight away so he has to request to jail authorities. We are not aware if he has made same request to jail authorities,” ndtv.com quoted an NIA official who requested anonymity.
After the agency’s response, the special court rejected Father Swamy’s application and the activist has moved a fresh application seeking permission to use a straw and a sipper and winter clothes inside the jail.
The court has sought the response of the jail authorities and adjourned the matter till December 4.
Jesuit Father Arockiasamy Santhanam, secretary of the National Lawyers Forum of Religious and Priests, laments that the NIA court has rejected Father Swamy’s plea petition for a straw sipper and winter clothes. “It is very sad that the court has failed to see the prayer on humanitarian ground,” he told Matters India November 26.
The lawyer priest said the Father Swamy’s lawyer filed a regular bail petition before the trial court. “The argument would be on merit for bail,” he added.
Father Swamy was arrested over his alleged involvement in the Bhima-Koregaon case.
Parkinson’s is a debilitating disorder of the central nervous system that can cause involuntary tremors, or muscular spasms, which makes carrying out even everyday actions, such as drinking, difficult. In addition, some patients also develop problems swallowing or chewing.
There is a Jail Manual for such petty matters. Even then the court could easily have passed necessary orders. This is really shocking.