Setback for Kejriwal; court declines his plea for daily consultation with doctor through video conferencing 

NEW DELHI: The Rouse Avenue Court declined a plea moved by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal seeking direction to jail authorities to administer insulin and allow him to consult through video conferencing daily for 15 minutes with respect to his acute diabetes and fluctuating blood sugar level.

The Special Judge Kaveri Baweja while passing the order stated that directions are hereby passed qua the prayer of the applicant for the administration of Insulin and also with a view to ensure that the applicant is provided all the requisite medical treatment.

The court issued the order after considering the jail authorities' explanation that doctors are on duty 24 hours a day in the jail and that Kejriwal's sugar level is being checked twice a day. The court also observed that one person alone cannot be given special consideration in jail.

"Though it shall continue to be the primary duty of Tihar Jail authorities, who are stated to be fully equipped to take care of the health of the applicant, to ensure that all requisite medical treatment is provided to him in jail, however, in the event of any requirement for specialized consultation, the jail Authorities shall consult the Medical Board to be constituted by Director, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), comprising of a senior endocrinologist, diabetologist, as per the request made on April 20, already sent by DG Prisons," said the Court.

It also said that the Medical Board should prescribe a diet and exercise plan, if required, for Kejriwal considering his medical requirements and relevant data regarding his vital statistics.

The applicant shall, however, continue to be provided with home-cooked food, subject to the condition that it shall strictly be in compliance with the diet as prescribed by the above-mentioned Medical Board. Till the time such Board prescribes a diet plan for the applicant, his family may provide home-cooked food to him, though it shall be strictly as per the diet chart of his private doctor and as permitted vide order dated April 1, added the court.