KOLKATA: Trinamool Congress leader Abhishek Banerjee was on Wednesday denied permission by the Calcutta High Court to travel abroad for eye treatment after he declined to appear before a medical board at the state-run SSKM Hospital.The single-judge bench of Justice Saugata Bhattacharya had earlier directed Banerjee to appear before the medical board on August 6 so that doctors could assess his condition and inform the court whether treatment abroad was necessary or if it could be provided in India.During the hearing, Justice Saugata Bhattacharya asked Banerjee’s counsel whether he was willing to appear before a medical board headed by the head of the Ophthalmology department at SSKM Hospital to determine whether treatment abroad was necessary or could be provided in India. On instructions, Banerjee’s counsel submitted that the TMC leader wished to be examined by a doctor of his choice.However, after Banerjee informed the court that he was unwilling to appear before the medical board, the bench dismissed his plea seeking permission to travel overseas.The court observed that an assessment by the SSKM medical board was necessary to evaluate Banerjee’s condition and assist the court in deciding whether treatment outside the country was required.“At this stage, what is important is the treatment of the petitioner; where it will be administered is immaterial,” Justice Bhattacharya observed.The high court had earlier granted Banerjee interim protection in a criminal case but directed that he could not leave the country without the court’s permission.Banerjee subsequently approached the Supreme Court challenging that condition. On August 3, the apex court directed the Calcutta High Court to decide his plea for permission to travel abroad expeditiously.Opposing the plea, state Additional Advocate General Rajdeep Majumder argued that several criminal prosecutions were pending against Banerjee and that there was no medical emergency warranting treatment abroad.Majumder also submitted that Banerjee’s presence in the country could be required in connection with investigations into multiple FIRs registered against him.Appearing for Banerjee, senior advocate Rebecca John argued that it was the petitioner’s right to choose his doctor and medical institution for treatment, particularly where continuity of medical care was involved.
