Delhi’s Rouse Avenue Court has rejected a plea filed by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, seeking jail authorities to administer insulin and permit him to consult doctor daily for 15-minute through video conferences due to his acute diabetes and fluctuating blood sugar levels.
The Judge
Special Judge Kaveri Baweja, in her ruling, specified that directions are issued regarding the administration of insulin and ensuring all necessary medical treatment for Kejriwal. The primary responsibility for his medical care remains with Tihar Jail authorities, who are deemed fully capable of attending to his health needs. However, in case of specialized consultation requirements, the jail authorities are instructed to consult a Medical Board constituted by the Director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). This board is to include a senior endocrinologist and diabetologist, as requested by the Director General of Prisons on April 20.
The Medical Board is tasked with prescribing a suitable diet and exercise plan for Kejriwal based on his medical condition and relevant health data. They are also authorized to conduct physical examinations of Kejriwal in jail as needed. Meanwhile, Kejriwal will continue to receive home-cooked food, subject to adherence to the diet prescribed by the Medical Board. Until a diet plan is prescribed, his family may provide food following his private doctor’s recommendations, as permitted in the April 1 order.
The jail authorities must ensure strict compliance with the prescribed diet, and any deviation should be promptly reported to the AIIMS Medical Board. AIIMS is requested to expedite their report to the court regarding the necessity of administering insulin to Kejriwal.
Furthermore, any future medical interventions for Kejriwal will be decided by jail authorities in consultation with the Medical Board. The court has also directed jail authorities to regularly submit medical reports on Kejriwal’s health every fortnight until further notice.
Kejriwal’s Plea
Kejriwal’s plea mentioned that during consultations with Dr. Ravichandra Rao, his wife, Sunita Kejriwal, was allowed to participate via video conferencing. It also highlighted Kejriwal’s previous participation in the ‘Insulin Reversal Programme’ under careful medical supervision, which successfully regulated his glucose levels.
However, since his arrest on March 21, Kejriwal has been unable to follow this programme or receive insulin. The plea criticized the lack of insulin administration and inadequate medical attention provided during Kejriwal’s judicial custody, alleging that even basic insulin administration requests were denied.
Kejriwal’s plea also countered claims by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) regarding his dietary habits, stating that the provided chart failed to accurately represent his food consumption. The ED’s allegations, including the claim that Kejriwal deliberately consumes sugary items to create a medical emergency, were dismissed as lacking in probity and fairness.
ED
The ED’s counsel responded, stating that medical doctors in the jail regularly monitor Kejriwal’s blood sugar levels and observe his dietary intake. They proposed comparing the diet chart with the food provided by the jail authorities to assess Kejriwal’s compliance.
