Kolkata, Aug. 5 -- The Calcutta High Court on Wednesday rejected Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee's plea seeking permission to travel abroad for specialised eye treatment after he declined to undergo a medical board examination in Kolkata.
Justice Saugata Bhattacharya held that the court could not determine whether overseas treatment was necessary without first obtaining an independent medical assessment in India. The judge had proposed that a three-member panel
from the Department of Ophthalmology at SSKM Hospital examine Banerjee and report whether the required treatment was unavailable in the country.
However, Banerjee, through his counsel, refused to appear before the proposed medical board, prompting the court to dismiss the application rather than keep it pending.
The court observed that while a patient may have a preferred doctor or hospital, such preference must be weighed against the circumstances of the case, particularly since Banerjee is facing multiple criminal proceedings in which investigations are continuing. It also noted that India has advanced medical facilities capable of treating complex eye conditions.
Senior advocate Rebecca John, appearing for Banerjee, said the MP had long been treated at Johns Hopkins Hospital abroad and sought permission for a temporary medical visit. She stressed the need for continuity of treatment and agreed to comply with any conditions imposed by the court. The state opposed the plea, contending that there was no medical emergency requiring foreign treatment and that Banerjee's presence could be needed during the ongoing investigations.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.