Sore over the continued non-compliance of its orders, the Karnataka High Court on Friday pulled up the State Government and the Victoria Hospital for failing to adequately explain and file records relating to the hospitalisation of former Minister H. Halappa.
The court warned them of contempt if they continued to defy its orders.
The court was dealing with a public interest litigation (PIL) petition, by advocate K. Raghavendra, alleging that though Mr. Halappa was arrested by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) on a rape charge, he had been in hospital ever since his arrest.
Mr. Halappa has been lodged in Victoria Hospital since May 14.
The petition pointed out that he was staying in a special ward and was never jailed as an undertrial.
When the PIL had come up for hearing the last time, a Division Bench, comprising Justice V.G. Sabhahit and Justice A.S. Bopanna, had asked for Mr. Halappa's medical records from Victoria Hospital, where he was ostensibly being treated for diabetes, blood pressure, asthma and chest pain.
When this was not done, the Bench expressed displeasure over the failure to obey its order and posted the case for Friday, asking the Medical Superintendent of Victoria Hospital, B.G. Tilak, to be present before it along with all records.
When the matter came up, the Bench was taken aback when the principal government advocate submitted that Dr. Tilak could not be present and his assistant Mallikarjun had come instead.
When it was told that Dr. Tilak was abroad and would be back by the next hearing, the Bench warned the respondents, including Dr. Tilak, of contempt of court proceedings. Additional Advocate-General K.M. Nataraj promised to place the records before the court.
The Bench adjourned further hearing of the case till July 1.
