SC allows Jaya Jaitley to meet sick Fernandes

The Supreme Court on Friday allowed former Samata Party president Jaya Jaitley to meet her party colleague, George Fernandes, suffering from Alzheimer but restrained her from any “physical contact” with the former defence minister since he was prone to catching infection.

The Supreme Court on Friday allowed former Samata Party president Jaya Jaitley to meet her party colleague, George Fernandes, suffering from Alzheimer but restrained her from any “physical contact” with the former defence minister since he was prone to catching infection.

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A bench of Justice P Sathasivam and Justice Tarun Gogoi said Jaitley could meet Fernandes under imposed conditions. It directed her to visit him alone once in 15 days. On the request of Fernandes’s wife Leila Kabir, the court limited the meeting to 15 minutes only.

Fernandes, 82, has been bed-ridden at his residence in Panchsheel Park. Jaitley moved the SC seeking visitation rights after the Delhi high court declined to entertain her plea.

The apex court further directed the former leader to inform about her visit in advance to the wife. “Petitioner (Jaitley) should not interfere with Fernandes’s treatment,” the bench ordered.

In her appeal before SC, Jaitley had claimed that Fernandes shouldn’t be deprived of his basic human right to meet acquaintances and friends.