The Supreme Court on Monday allowed Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee to travel overseas for three weeks to undergo eye treatment.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana passed the order while hearing the Diamond Harbour MP's challenge to a Calcutta High Court decision that had refused him permission to travel abroad for treatment, news agency PTI reported.
Calcutta High Court rejects request
Banerjee had approached the Supreme Court after the Calcutta High Court rejected his request on August 5. The high court had noted that he was unwilling to appear before the medical board at the state-run SSKM Hospital the following day for an assessment of his medical condition.
Also read | ‘Could have been killed’: Mamata Banerjee's vehicle attacked with ‘stones, mud’ in North 24 Parganas
The high court had said the matter could have been considered if Banerjee had appeared before the medical board and obtained an assessment from medical experts on whether overseas treatment was necessary.
The high court said, "In view of submission made on behalf of the applicant (Banerjee) that applicant will not appear before the medical board at SSKM Hospital, Kolkata, this court finds the issue which is agitated before this court by filing application... ought not to be kept pending further," the high court had said while dismissing his application.
Also read | ‘Cooperate with probe’: SC grants interim protection from arrest to Abhishek Banerjee’s aide
{{/usCountry}}Also read | ‘Cooperate with probe’: SC grants interim protection from arrest to Abhishek Banerjee’s aide
{{/usCountry}}The court noted that had Banerjee appeared before the medical board, its opinion could have helped determine whether he needed to travel abroad for treatment.
On August 3, the Supreme Court had directed the Calcutta High Court to consider within a week Banerjee's plea seeking permission to travel abroad for eye treatment.
Senior advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, appearing for Banerjee, had told the Supreme Court that the plea sought modification of the high court's earlier order to enable the MP to travel overseas for medical treatment.
Interim protection extended till October 6
The Calcutta High Court had earlier extended Banerjee's interim protection from coercive action until October 6 in a case concerning alleged comments against leaders and workers of a rival party at a public meeting on April 27, ahead of the second phase of the West Bengal assembly polls.
Also read | Calcutta HC denies Abhishek Banerjee permission to go abroad for treatment
While granting the relief, the high court directed Banerjee to cooperate with the investigation and barred him from travelling abroad without the court's permission, as previously ordered.
The court extended the interim protection until October 6 or until further orders, whichever was earlier. It also said Banerjee's plea seeking modification of the conditions attached to the interim protection would be heard in August, though no date had been fixed.
The high court had earlier said it was not inclined to permit Banerjee to travel abroad while the investigation was pending. It also noted that several reputed eye clinics were available in Kolkata.
(With inputs from agencies)