New Delhi: Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamool Congress General Secretary and nephew of former CM Mamata Banerjee, has suffered a major setback from the Calcutta High Court. The High Court has denied him permission to travel abroad for eye treatment. The court stated unequivocally that it is not a medical expert body.
Therefore, permission for foreign travel cannot be granted without a report from expert doctors. The court has also directed him to appear before the Head of the Ophthalmology Department at SSKM Hospital in Kolkata on August 6. According to media reports, a further decision will be taken only after the medical report is received.
Court Clarifies: We Are Not Doctors
During the hearing of the petition, the Calcutta High Court observed that the court cannot take the place of medical experts. Consequently, obtaining the opinion of expert doctors is crucial before granting a patient permission for treatment abroad. For this reason, the court ordered Abhishek Banerjee to appear before the Head of the Ophthalmology Department at SSKM Hospital; further hearings will proceed based on the doctors’ report.
Banerjee Has Faced Court Setbacks Before
This is not the first time he has faced a setback in court; Abhishek Banerjee has encountered disappointment in legal proceedings previously. Last month, the same single-judge bench of the Calcutta High Court had dismissed his petition seeking permission for foreign travel. At that time too, the court had directed that he first undergo an examination by expert doctors at a government hospital.
It was stated that a further decision would be taken only after reviewing the medical report. After failing to secure relief from the High Court, Abhishek Banerjee approached the Supreme Court. There, a three-judge bench led by the Chief Justice of India (CJI) heard the matter and referred it back to the Calcutta High Court, directing it to decide within seven days. Subsequently, the matter was heard again in the High Court.
The August 6 Report Will Be Crucial
All eyes are now on August 6. The Calcutta High Court has directed the TMC MP to appear before the Head of the Ophthalmology Department at SSKM Medical College and Hospital. Additionally, medical examinations and reports will determine whether treatment abroad is necessary or if it can be provided within the country. The court’s next decision will hinge on this report.
Details of the 2016 Accident
It is worth noting that Abhishek Banerjee’s eye condition is not new. He was involved in a road accident in October 2016 while returning to Kolkata from Murshidabad. He sustained a severe eye injury in the incident. He subsequently underwent treatment at several hospitals across the country and later travelled abroad for advanced care. Citing this past treatment and his current medical issues, he had sought permission to travel abroad again.
