Father Stan Swamy told a division bench of the Bombay High court to grant him interim bail to go back to his home in Ranchi.

He interacted with the court via video conferencing, on Friday May 21;  based on the court’s direction for video-conference  interaction with the ailing Jesuit priest.

 Father Stan had difficulty hearing, and a person sitting beside him explained what the court was asking.

He stated that his health has progressively deteriorated in the eight months he has spent a Taloja Prison. Adding that being in Taloja has brought him to a situation where he can neither eat, write, bathe or go for a walk by himself.

Father Stan  asked the bench, led by  Justice SJ Kathawalla, to consider how this happened.

He, however, refused to get admitted to the government run JJ Hospital, saying that he would prefer the Taloja Prison ward where he has been lodged since his arrest.

“No, I would not want to. I have been there thrice. I know the set-up. I don’t want to be hospitalized there. I would rather suffer, possibly die if this were to go on. I would prefer this, than be admitted at the JJ Hospital. It is a very difficult moment for me.”

Father Stan  later refused to get admitted to any other hospital either, requesting the court for interim bail to be with his own. “Whatever happens to me, I would like to be with my own,” he said

Senior Counsel Mihir Desai assisted by advocate Mihir Joshi sought time to interact with Swamy personally to convince him for hospital admission before pressing for interim bail.

The matter was adjourned to June 7.

On Wednesday, the bench had directed the Dean of JJ Hospital to constitute a committee to examine Swamy’s heath. His report was submitted to the court.

The law journal “Live Law ” has described the interaction in detail, as follows:

Justice Kathawalla first asked Swamy if he was taken to JJ Hospital.

“I am Stan Swamy. Yesterday, I was examined in several places. But what I want to say is that I was brought here eight months ago. When I came to Taloja, whole systems of my body were very functional, but during these eight months there has been a steady by slow regression of whatwhatever my body functions were.

“Eight months ago, I would eat by myself, do some writing, walk, I could take bath by myself, but all these are disappearing one after another. So Taloja Jail has brought me to a situation where I can neither write nor go for a walk by myself. Someone has to feed me. In other words, I am requesting you to consider why and how this deterioration of myself happened. Yesterday I was taken to JJ Hospital, so I got an opportunity to explain what I should be given.

My deterioration is more powerful than the small tablets that they give” – the octogenarian told the bench.

After Swamy vehemently refused to get admitted to JJ Hospital, Justice Kathawalla asked if he would agree to get admitted to any other hospital.

After Swamy vehemently refused to get admitted to JJ Hospital, Justice Kathawalla asked if he would agree to get admitted to any other hospital.

Desai said that Swamy is probably assuming to he will be taken to a government hospital.

“He is in the prison hospital since 6months. The problem with prison hospital is that they don’t have anything – no medical practitioner, no facility”

But Swamy said he was only asking the judiciary to consider interim bail. “Only one thing that I would request the judiciary is to consider for interim bail. That is the only request.”

Desai tried to explain to Swamy that the question of bail would be decided later. “Right now, it may not be possible to send you to Ranchi. If you could agree to get admitted to, say Holy Family Hospital, then we can see.”

“I don’t think it would make any difference. Whatever happens to me, I would like to be with my own,” Swamy said.

Desai then requested the bench for liberty to approach the court again if Swamy agrees to be hospitalized.

“Since Mr Swamy seems to have taken the “forgive them for they know not what they are doing” approach,” he said. The bench agreed.

In its order the court noted, “We have also spoken to Mr Swamy and we have observed that he has severe hearing problem. He is unable to hear even the person sitting next to him. He could hear only when the person sitting next to him conveyed.

We keep the matter on June 7. Till then Taloja Jail is directed to strictly follow the recommendations of the JJ Hospital committee as well as the  facilities mentioned.”

  Bombay High Court, Jesuits, social justice, stan swamy, Stan Swany