Mumbai: Justice SS Shinde of the Bombay High Court on July 19 said late tribal rights activist and priest – Stan Swamy’s – graceful funeral service after his demise on July 5 2021, had touched him.
“I was informed about the timing of the funeral service. Such a wonderful person. The kind of services he has rendered to the society. We have respect for his work. Legally, whatever is there against him is a different matter…We normally don’t get time for TV, but we saw this funeral, and it was very graceful.”
Eighty-four-year-old Swamy was the oldest activist arrested by the NIA in the Bhima Koregaon-Elgar Parishad case on October 8, 2020, and booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
He passed away in a private hospital ahead of his bail hearing on July 5, and the same bench of Justices SS Shinde and NJ Jamadar asked the authorities to undertake all applicable inquiries into his demise.
On July 19, the court made the above observations while hearing Senior Advocate Mihir Desai’s arguments to allow ex-Xaviers College Principal Father Frazer Mascaren has to join the mandatory Magisterial inquiry into Father Swamy’s death as next of kin. The inquiry is under section 176(A) of the CrPC. The bench told Desai that they couldn’t control what was said outside the courtroom after Swamy’s death, but it had ensured the ailing priest received the required medical attention from the moment his counsels mentioned that his health had deteriorated, on May 28, 2021.
“When the matter was heard (July 5), and the medical officer informed about the very, very sad news, you said you don’t have a grievance against the hospital or the court. Every time we have acceded to your request. It is very unfortunate. We never imagined that this would happen. So far as our court is concerned, we give patient hearing to every side.” Desai agreed. He reiterated that he had no grievance against the Bench or the Holy Family Hospital that treated Father Swamy for a month before he passed away. Desai added that the court had taken up Father Swamy’s medical bail twice out of turn.
However, in an earlier hearing, Desai had mentioned that his main grievance was against the NIA and the prison officials. Their acts led to deterioration in Swamy’s health. The court added that nobody mentioned the same bench had granted bail to 81-year-old Telugu poet Varavara Rao despite opposition. And also allowed his family to meet him. Referring to the current scenario where several trials are stalled and stringent provisions under anti-terror laws make it difficult for an accused to be granted bail, the court said, “The concern is that for many years can people be asked to languish in jail without a trial. Not only in this case, but the question will arise in other cases also.”
Counsel for NIA Sandesh Patil said he was objecting to Desai’s submissions as the court was merely seized with Swamy’s bail appeals. “Time and again it is projected that NIA is responsible for whatever has happened, that Jail authorities are responsible.” The court then granted NIA time and said it would take up the matter on Friday, first on board.
https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/bombay-high-court-says-respect-for-father-stan-swamys-work-177743
Crocodile tears. Shame
There is no need for a gold ring for a dead body. Any way it has broadened the smile of some but it has also brought down the status of our nation so low to the core both internationally and nationally. When shall we get our freedom?
It is TOO LATE to regret!
The Mumbai High court must learn a lesson from this and try to save those falsely inflicted in future.
Whoever responsible for keeping Fr. Stan is put behind the bars even without trails, are responsible for his death..Thye have to answer to it…
After Fr. Stan’s passing away in jail, angry national and international reactions are giving many in India a bad sleep, particularly in some sections of the judiciary. Some judges are repentant while saying they did what they could. The Chief Justice is asking the central government why people have to be detained under archaic laws and why continue pampering such laws.
Good enough reactions. However, many wonder if the judiciary had not taken a snail’s speed to consider granting medical bail to an 84 year old pre-trail detainee, languishing with Parkinson’s disease and Covid, could he not have been saved?
It is time the Indian judiciary shows a firm backbone and not to bend over backward to follow the executive’s diktat. It is well known that every government in power has an axe to grind against the previous government or against critics and dissenters. It is time to put an end to such vendetta game. Should politicians be allowed to run amok like unbolted animals? An autocratic government can be worse.
Crocodile tears now 😠
This statement of the court feeling sorry is an eye wash and Crocodile tear…the court need to be challenged along with the central and state administration….,,!
Stan is not the first to be murdered after prolonged incarceration by govt of India govt and courts..!
Let us not swallow such lame excuses of the lame judges..!! Who like to take milage of such uproar globally..
The court who left arnab within days took time to kill Stan under custody..!
Are they asked to say such words to appease the angry citizens who are betrayed by the court and the country …??
Jai Bhim, Jai Adivasi, jai moolnivasi👍👍💪🏼💪🏼