"We have no medical expertise:" Supreme Court issues notice on plea by Asaram Bapu seeking interim bail for medical treatment at Ayurveda centre

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice on a petition filed by convicted godman Asaram Bapu challenging a Rajasthan High Court order dismissing his plea for temporary suspension of sentence to avail ayurvedic medical treatment (Asaram Bapu v. State of Rajasthan & Ors)..The vacation bench of Justices BR Gavai and Krishna Murari commented that the top court has "no medical expertise" to delve into the medical condition of Bapu. The Court, however, issued notice to State of Rajasthan returnable by a week. .Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra, appearing for Asaram, submitted,"He is a 83-year-old person, and is convicted for life imprisonment. His bail is pending in Gujarat too. There is a report from AIIMS dated May 19, which shows he was given multiple blood transfusions to increase his haemoglobin level. It was due to gastrointestinal bleeding. This man has had bleeding, has been put on blood thinners and has been put on oxygen. We need two months time to recuperate. At 80 plus, his weight loss is drastic too.".Luthra informed the Court that the self-styled godman wanted to be treated at Prakash Deep Institute of Ayurved at Raiwala, Uttarakhand.Asaram approached the top court seeking temporary suspension of his sentence for two months to undergo medical treatment. .On May 21, the High Court had dismissed the application for temporary suspension of sentence filed by Asaram Bapu and directed the district and jail administration to ensure that proper treatment is provided to him at a suitable medical institution..The High Court Division Bench of Justices Sandeep Mehta and Devendra Kachhawaha had said: “It shall also be ensured that no sooner, the convict is lodged back at jail after recovery, he will be provided proper treatment, nutritious diet and safe environment looking to his old age and medical condition.”.Asaram Bapu, who is serving a life term at Jodhpur Central Jail in connection with the rape of a minor girl, had approached the High Court for Ayurvedic treatment of many diseases. In the meantime, on May 5, he tested positive for COVID-19 and was shifted to AIIMS, Jodhpur. At the same time, he developed internal gastrointestinal bleeding, as a result of which his haemoglobin levels dropped critically.