Former state education minister Partha Chatterjee on Tuesday complained of poor medical facilities at Presidency jail, prompting the court to seek his medical report from the jail superintendent.
Chatterjee, in custody in connection with alleged irregularities in recruitments for schools, stood up inside the Special (CBI)-I courtroom and submitted that on an average it takes 10 days for a doctor to turn up in the jail and attend to a patient.
“I want to say something. The jail super is informing the hospital (about a patient) but the hospital is taking 10 days to send a doctor. I mean, if someone is ill, the doctor attends to him 10 days after the illness is reported. Please look into this,” Chatterjee said in the court.
The judge said he would look into the matter.
Chatterjee later said he had spent 300 days in jail. Lawyer Sk Salim Rahaman, who is representing Chatterjee, said no bail petition was moved on Tuesday.
“We sought a medical status report on my client given his deteriorating medical condition. The court has granted our prayer and asked the jail superintendent to file a report,” Rahaman said.
Chatterjee, who reportedly has multiple ailments, requested the judge before stepping out of the court to arrange for proper treatment facilities for him.
“Sir, I do not need any more justice. Please arrange for proper medical treatment. I have understood what is happening in the name of justice. It has been 300 days. I am a five-time MLA…. I am deprived of a healthy life. Sir, please deliver your justice soon so that I can witness it before I die,” Chatterjee said.
The court extended the former minister’s judicial remand till June 13.
Job scam arrest
Sujoy Krishna Bhadra, known as “Kalighat-er Kaku (uncle from Kalighat)” after he was referred to as such by a corruption accused, was arrested on Tuesday by the Enforcement Directorate after day-long questioning in connection with the alleged irregularities in recruitment in schools.