The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the Taloja jail superintendent to immediately shift activist Gautam Navlakha, jailed in connection with the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, to Mumbai’s Jaslok Hospital for treatment.

The top court said receiving medical treatment was a fundamental right of a prisoner.

A bench of Justices K.M. Joseph and Hrishikesh Roy also allowed 70-year-old Navlakha’s partner Sabha Husain and sister to meet him in the hospital.

“Having heard the counsel for the parties, we are of the view that receiving medical treatment would be a fundamental right. We direct that the petitioner be taken immediately for a thorough medical check-up.

“Accordingly, we direct superintendent Taloja jail to take the petitioner to Jaslok hospital so that he is able to undergo requisite medical check-up and receive treatment. We make it clear that the petitioner will remain in police custody,” the bench said.