New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday granted permission to Trinamool Congress General Secretary and Diamond Harbour Member of Parliament Abhishek Banerjee to travel abroad for three weeks to undergo specialized eye treatment. A three-judge Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana passed the order after hearing Banerjee’s appeal challenging a Calcutta High Court decision that had previously denied his travel request.
The legal challenge arose after the Calcutta High Court dismissed the parliamentarian’s petition on August 5. The high court had observed that Banerjee was unwilling to present himself before a state-constituted medical board at SSKM Hospital in Kolkata for a formal assessment of his health condition, which the court deemed necessary before evaluating whether overseas treatment was required. The top court had earlier directed the high court on August 3 to expeditiously hear and decide the matter within a week.
Setting aside the high court’s restrictions, the apex court bench affirmed the parliamentarian’s right to seek medical care of his choice. The court allowed Banerjee to travel using his diplomatic passport for a three-week duration in September. However, the bench directed the MP to submit his complete travel itinerary, residential addresses, and treating hospital details confidentially to law enforcement agencies prior to his departure.
