Fernandes' wife, brother tell court no settlement possible

The wife and brother of the ailing former defence minister George Fernandes on Thursday told the Delhi High Court that no settlement was possible, a day after the court advised them to resolve amicably their differences over his treatment and interaction with relatives.

The wife and brother of the ailing former defence minister George Fernandes on Thursday told the Delhi High Court that no settlement was possible, a day after the court advised them to resolve amicably their differences over his treatment and interaction with relatives.

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Senior advocate Aman Lekhi, appearing for Fernandes' wife Leila Kabir, submitted before Justice V.K.Shali: "We made a very generous effort but reached no conclusion. We don’t have problem with the brothers visiting George, but have objection to the other people coming along with them."

Countering Kabir, senior advocate K.N.Balagopal, appearing for George’s brother Richard, said: "Even we want to solve the issue amicably, but we want some privacy when we meet our brother."

"After our meeting with George Wednesday, he said that he wants to go to court and tell the truth to everyone," he added.

Objecting to this, Lekhi said: "The petitioners are not focused. Firstly they want meeting rights, then want constitution of a medical board and now they want George to depose in court. It is unacceptable."

Accepting Lekhi’s contention, the court asked counsel for Richard Fernandes to amend the petition and slated the next hearing for June 3.

"This is not a legal matter but a family matter. So it should be solved amicably," the court advised Leila Kabir and Fernandes' brothers Wednesday.

George Fernandes, 79, is suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

In his petition, Richard alleged that Leila had deserted his brother 25 years ago and now suddenly come back into his life when he was ill. He alleged George has been put under confinement by his wife and son and that he was prevented from meeting his ailing brother.

George Fernandes was undergoing ayurvedic treatment at the Patanjali Yogpeeth in Haridwar till recently.

Richard's petition also alleged that George's wife and son "had forcibly taken him to an undisclosed location on the pretext of giving him medical care" and sought he and Michael, the former minister's two brothers, be given access to the ailing George.