The Tamil Nadu State Information Commission has directed the Department of Health and Family Welfare to clarify whether epilepsy is curable and explain the possibility of its recurrence after prolonged treatment.
Disposing of a petition filed by A. Jahangir Basha of Batlagundu in Dindigul district, who sought to know whether epilepsy was still treatable after five years of continuous treatment and the possibility of such a patient being able to drive a heavy passenger vehicle, the commission asked the authorities to provide the information within 15 days.
In July 2017, the petitioner wrote to the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services, seeking the information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. Since there was no reply despite the petition having been circulated to the Directorate of Medical Education and the Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, he filed an appeal with the Additional Secretary, Health & Family Welfare, Chennai.
Having not received any reply from any of the authorities, Mr. Jahangir moved the commission. State Information Commissioner S. Selvaraj ordered the authorities of the Health & Family Welfare department to send a reply to the petitioner by registered post and report compliance with the directive by sending a copy of the petitioner’s acknowledgement of receipt of their reply.
