The Supreme Court on Monday requested the Calcutta High Court to hear and decide Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee's plea seeking permission to travel abroad for medical treatment within a week. The matter came up before a Bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohan.
"We will request the (Calcutta) High Court to hear the matter within one week," the Bench observed.
Abhishek Banerjee, the Diamond Harbour MP, has approached the Supreme Court after expressing dissatisfaction with the proceedings before the Calcutta High Court, where his plea seeking permission to travel overseas for eye treatment is pending.
The petition is being heard by Justice Sougata Bhattacharya at the top court in Bengal.
During the previous hearing on July 20, the High Court sought to know whether Banerjee had consulted any eye specialist in Kolkata. His counsel submitted that the TMC leader has already been undergoing treatment in the United States.
The West Bengal government, however, opposed the plea, arguing that multiple cases against Banerjee are currently under investigation and permitting him to travel abroad could affect the probe.
After hearing both sides, the High Court directed Banerjee to first undergo an examination by the Head of the Ophthalmology Department at SSKM Hospital.
The court observed that if the specialist certifies that the required treatment is unavailable in Kolkata and treatment abroad is medically necessary, the opinion would carry significant weight while deciding the plea.
The High Court had also clarified that if it is established that the treatment cannot be provided in Kolkata and overseas treatment is essential, it would consider granting permission.
Banerjee moved the Supreme Court last week, contending that despite complying with the High Court's earlier directions in connection with the school jobs case—including cooperating with the investigation and providing his voice sample—his application seeking permission to travel abroad for medical treatment was not being decided.
Meanwhile, the ruling party has questioned Banerjee’s urgent plea to leave for overseas. Floating speculation, Minister of Urban Development, Agnimitra Paul, said, “I don't know why Abhishek Babu (Banerjee) is so keen on going abroad. Whether it is for medical treatment or there is some other issue, we don't know. We have said that using the Diamond Harbour model of his constituency, we will arrange his treatment facilities. Whether he needs an eye operation, brain surgery, or heart treatment, whatever it may be. For us, there are situations where two patients share one bed, and sometimes even three patients, along with dogs and cats. This is what we have seen under his government for 15 years. For him, we guarantee that we will provide a single bed, a good doctor, and proper treatment..."
