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Chronology of harassment against human rights defender Sudha Bharadwaj

Chronology of harassment against human rights defender Sudha Bharadwaj

CIVICUS / by CIVICUS

Today marks exactly 1000 days since human rights lawyer & activist Sudha Bharadwaj was arrested & detained on fabricated charges.
Sudha Bharadwaj, aged 59, is a human rights lawyer and activist who has spent her life defending Indigenous people in India and protecting workers’ rights. She has been in pre-trial detention since August 2018, when she was arrested under the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) on trumped up accusations of having links with Maoist terrorist organisations, based on evidence believed to be fabricated.
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Also read: The Sudha Bharadwaj the Govt Doesn’t Want You To Know (article14, Jan 2021)

The case of Fr Stan Swamy is becoming a test case for civil liberties in India

The case of Fr Stan Swamy is becoming a test case for civil liberties in India

The Free Press Journal / by FPJ Editorial

The case of Fr Stan Swamy, the oldest man to be accused of terrorism in India, is becoming a test case for civil liberties in India. An 84-year-old Jesuit priest with five decades of work among Jharkhand tribals is alleged to be the kingpin of a plot to take on the Modi government through an armed militia. Since he has been incarcerated, his Parkinson’s has worsened. He is literally rotting in jail but unable to get bail. There was a time when he was denied even a sipper to help him drink because tremors made it difficult for him to hold a glass.
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Stan takes a stand / Stan Swamy never let age defeat his passion for struggle, believe his aides

Stan takes a stand / Stan Swamy never let age defeat his passion for struggle, believe his aides

Stan takes a stand

23/05/2021

Mattersindia.com / by Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ

It was quintessential Stan! In a manner which has come to characterize him Jesuit Fr Stan Swamy told the Bombay High Court during a hearing on May 21, “I want to go to Ranchi to be with my friends….Whatever happens to me I would like to be with my own.”
Fr Stan who turned eight-four a few weeks ago on April 26, has been lodged in the Taloja jail since his arrest on October 8, 2020. He was the last one of 16 to be arrested, in the Elgar Parishad/Bhima-Koregaon conspiracy case. That he had nothing to do with either is clear as daylight!
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Stan Swamy never let age defeat his passion for struggle, believe his aides

22/05/2021

The New Indian Express / by Mukesh Ranjan

They strongly believed that his chances of survival will increase manifold if he is released from jail and taken back to Ranchi.
Surprised over the stand taken by the 84-year old Stan Swamy and rejecting Court offer of shifting him to hospital, people close to him believes that he has placed himself along with Bhagat Singh and Khudiram Bose as he tried to give a message to the youths of Jharkhand.
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Bombay High Court disposes of plea seeking medical bail for Sudha Bharadwaj

Bombay High Court disposes of plea seeking medical bail for Sudha Bharadwaj

All prisoners have right to get their medical reports, rules Bombay HC

21/05/2021

Free Press Journal / by Narsi Benwal

Sudha Bharadwaj says she got sufficient medical attention and thus doesn’t need bail on health grounds.
The vacation bench of the Bombay High Court led by Justice Shahrukh Kathawalla on Friday held that every prisoner has the right to their own medical records under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. The HC made the observation while disposing of the medical bail application filed by daughter of jailed activist Sudha Bharadwaj, who told the bench that she has received the requisite medical attention and now doesn’t need bail on health grounds.
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Disposing of the medical bail application filed by daughter of jailed activist Sudha Bharadwaj

21/05/2021

Updates by Live Law (May 21)

+++ Her daughter Maaysha Singh approached court after three of her co-prisoners tested positive for Covid-19 +++
+++ Adv Yug Chaudhri – This is a petition for medical bail. The petitioner was taken for numerous medical tests after the petition was filed +++
+++ Yug – Prisoners have a right to their medical records under Article 21. Medical records should be provided to them. This will cut down a lot of litigation +++
+++ Yug – He should be allowed to talk to his family members & lawyer after a hospital visit +++
+++ Court Order — Prisoners have a right to their own medical records under Article 21. In view thereof all medical records including tests conducted and medicines prescribed should be given to the prisoner on request +++
+++ Court – Infact we would go a step further and say that this should be done for every prisoner +++
+++ The bench further said that a prisoner should be allowed to make a phone call to an approved family member after a hospital visit +++
+++ Chaudhry said that since Bharadwaj has received the necessary medical attention after they approached the court, he is not pressing for medical bail +++
+++ Petition disposed of with the above observations +++

Sudha Bharadwaj’s 3 Co-Prisoners Tested COVID Positive: Daughter Moves Bombay HC Seeking Release On Medical Grounds

14/05/2021

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

It is said that Sudha Bharadwaj is kept in a barrack with 50-60 prisoners, sharing only 3 bathrooms, with no possibility of social distancing and sanitary co-existence.
The Bombay High Court on Thursday sought lawyer-activist Sudha Bharadwaj’s latest medical report from the Maharashtra Government on a plea seeking her interim release on medical bail from Byculla women’s prison.
The petition filed by her daughter Maaysha Singh, invoking Article 226 of the Constitution, states that the sixty-year-old Bharadwaj, who has diabetes and a history of pulmonary tuberculosis, is very unwell.
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Bombay High Court calls for medical report of Bhima Koregaon accused Sudha Bharadwaj in plea seeking bail on medical grounds

13/05/2021

Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi

The vacation bench directed the Maharashtra government to produce Bharadwaj’s latest medical report by Monday. Bharadwaj is presently lodged at the Byculla women’s prison.
The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the Maharashtra government to submit by May 17, the latest medical report of Bhima Koregaon accused, advocate Sudha Bharadwaj in a plea seeking her release from prison on medical grounds (Maaysha Singh v. State of Maharashtra & Anr).
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HC asks Maharashtra to submit Bhima Koregaon accused Sudha Bharadwaj’s medical report

13/05/2021

The Print / by pti

According to her counsel, Sudha Bharadwaj was kept in a ward of the prison with 50 other women under extremely unsanitary conditions, and with just three toilets for all of them.
The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the Maharashtra government to produce the latest medical report of lawyer-activist Sudha Bharadwaj, an accused in the Elgar-Parishad Maoists links case, who is is currently lodged at the Byculla women’s prison here.
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Can neither walk, write nor eat. Talojia jail has brought me to this situation: Fr Stan Swamy tells HC

Can neither walk, write nor eat. Talojia jail has brought me to this situation: Fr Stan Swamy tells HC

Can neither walk, write nor eat. Talojia jail has brought me to this situation: Fr Stan Swamy tells HC

21/05/2021

The Leaflet / by Gahena Gambani

The Bombay High Court Friday ordered the Taloja Jail authorities to follow the recommendations made by JJ hospital about the treatment and the facilities to be provided to octogenarian Father Stan Swamy, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case.
A vacation bench comprising Justices SJ Kathawalla and Surendra passed the order while hearing a bail application by Stan Swamy on medical grounds.
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I Would Rather Suffer, Possibly Die Very Shortly If This Were To Go On: Stan Swamy Pleads For Interim Bail In Bombay HC

21/05/2021

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

“Only one thing that I would request the judiciary is to consider for interim bail. That is the only request”, he said.
Father Stan Swamy, an 84-year-old tribal rights activist, who is an undertrial in in the Bhima Koregaon- Elgar Parishad case, pleaded with the Bombay High Court to grant him interim bail to go back to his home in Ranchi.
He told a division bench led by Justice SJ Kathawalla that his health has progressively deteriorated in the eight months he has spent a Taloja Prison. Adding that being in Taloja has brought him to a situation where he can neither eat, write, bathe or go for a walk by himself.
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Hany Babu can be moved to another Mumbai hospital for treatment, rules Bombay HC

Hany Babu can be moved to another Mumbai hospital for treatment, rules Bombay HC

Hany Babu can be moved to another Mumbai hospital for treatment, rules Bombay HC

19/05/2021

Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff

The professor had sought better medical aid as the hospital where he was admitted was not treating his acute eye infection.
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday allowed Delhi University Professor Hany Babu to be moved to Mumbai’s Breach Candy hospital for treatment, reported Live Law. The professor is an undertrial prisoner in the Bhima Koregaon case.
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“Nothing Wrong If This Becomes A Precedent In Present Times”: Bombay High Court Directs DU Prof Hany Babu To Be Shifted To Breach Candy Hospital By Tomorrow

19/05/2021

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

The Bombay High Court has directed Delhi University Associate Professor Hany Babu, who is covid -19 positive and suffers from black fungus infection, be shifted to Breach Candy hospital by tomorrow.
Babu was arrested in the Bhima Koregaon – Elgaar Parishad case on July 28 2020, by the National Investigation Agency.
A division bench of Justices SJ Kathawalla and SP Tavade observed that the patient deserves to be treated in a hospital of his choice in the current situation when NIA tried to oppose the plea saying it would become a precedent.
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Bombay HC Says Committee of Doctors Required to Examine Stan Swamy / Sets up video call with Swamy on May 21

Bombay HC Says Committee of Doctors Required to Examine Stan Swamy / Sets up video call with Swamy on May 21

Bombay HC Says Committee of Doctors Required to Examine Stan Swamy

19/05/2021

The Wire / by Sukanya Shantha

Taloja jail, like most other prisons in the state, lacks proper medical facilities. Over 3,500 prisoners here are handled by three Ayurvedic doctors.
A day after Father Stan Swamy was taken to Taloja Central prison from JJ hospital, the Bombay high court has directed the prison authorities to make arrangements to send him back to the hospital. The division bench of Justices S.J. Kathawalla and Surendra Tavade have also directed the dean of JJ hospital to constitute a committee of doctors including a neuro-physician, ENT, orthopaedic, general physician and any other doctor who might be required to examine Swamy.
The report has to be submitted to the court on May 21, when it is scheduled to hear the case again.
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Bombay HC sets up video call with Father Stan Swamy on May 21

19/05/2021

Sabrangindia / by Sabrangindia

It has also directed JJ Hospital’s Dean to constitute a committee of experts to examine the 84-year old’s health.
During the bail hearing of Bhima Koregaon case accused, Father Stan Swamy, the Bombay High Court has ordered Taloja Central jail to set up a video call with him on May 21 at 10:30 A.M.
The court said, “Taloja having video conferencing facilities, they shall arrange a meeting of the appellant with the court on 21st May at 10.30 A.M.” Father Swamy was taken to JJ Hospital yesterday but was brought back to Taloja jail around midnight.
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Activist Stan Swamy taken back to jail after visiting hospital for tests

18/05/2021

Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff

Swamy’s colleague said he was taken to a hospital at 4.45 pm on Tuesday and brought back to jail before midnight.
Tribal rights activist Stan Swamy, who is in custody in connection with the 2018 Bhima Koregaon case, was not shifted to a hospital on Tuesday, his colleague told Scroll.in. The 83-year-old’s health had deteriorated and the Jesuits, the Catholic religious order to which he belongs, had appealed to the Maharashtra government seeking medical attention for the activist.
… “The case comes up for hearing today [Wednesday] and we are told the prosecution will submit his medical report.”
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Jailed activist Stan Swamy shifted to JJ Hospital due to poor health

18/05/2021

Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff

Swamy, 84, suffers from Parkinson’s disease, and his health had deteriorated further recently.
Tribal rights activist Stan Swamy, who is in custody in connection to the 2018 Bhima Koregaon case, was on Tuesday moved to JJ Hospital in Mumbai from Taloja Jail, where he was lodged, a relative of one of the other people arrested in the same matter told Scroll.in.
… Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court is likely to hear Swamy’s medical bail plea on Wednesday, PTI reported.
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Father Stan Swamy finally gets first Covid shot, health continues to deteriorate in jail [read medical note]

Father Stan Swamy finally gets first Covid shot, health continues to deteriorate in jail [read medical note]

Sabrangindia / by Sabrangindia

His medical note filed before the Bombay High Court on poor facilities states that Taloja houses 3,251 inmates instead of its capacity of 2,124, with only three Ayurvedic doctors on duty.
Adivasi rights activist and Jesuit Priest Father Stan Swamy has finally been given the first dose of the vaccine against Covid-19 today. This despite the fact that the 84 year old who has multiple comorbidity issues has been eligible to take the vaccine since March 1, 2021. He was reportedly denied the vaccine earlier as he did not have his Aadhaar Card!
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Shift Stan Swamy to a Hospital: Jharkhand Activists Write to Maharashtra Govt

Shift Stan Swamy to a Hospital: Jharkhand Activists Write to Maharashtra Govt

Shift Stan Swamy to a Hospital: Jharkhand Activists Write to Maharashtra Govt

17/05/2021

The Wire / by The Wire Staff

In a letter addressed to the Maharashtra chief minister, activists pointed out that Swamy, who had been arrested last year in the ongoing investigation in the Elgar Parishad case, was a Parkinson’s disease patient.
The Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha, a coalition of people’s organisations and activists in the state, has urged the Maharashtra government to immediately shift tribal rights activist Father Stan Swamy, who is currently lodged at Taloja jail, to a hospital and be provided with medical treatment.
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Condition in Jail Grim: Swamy’s Friends Demand Medical Attention

17/05/2021

The Quint / by The Quint

Stan Swamy was arrested on 9 October 2020 for his alleged involvement in the Bhima Koregaon case of 2018.
Calling attention to the poor health condition of 84-year-old Father Stan Swamy inside the Taloja jail, friends and families demanded immediate medical attention.
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Ranchi archdiocese seeks CM’s help in securing bail for Fr Stan

17/05/2021

The Times of India / by Jaideep Deogharia

The Society of Jesuits, Ranchi Archdiocese and Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (JJM) have appealed to the chief minister of Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray, to ensure a Covid test, proper treatment and vaccination for octogenariah Father Stan Swamy and others who are in jail in connection to the Bhima-Koregaon violence case.
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Should the BK16 be left to die? / Crowded Jails & COVID: BK16 Accused’s Kin Share Fears

Should the BK16 be left to die? / Crowded Jails & COVID: BK16 Accused’s Kin Share Fears

Should the Bhima Koregaon 16 be left to die?

17/05/2021

Rediff.com / by Jyoti Punwani

Consider this:
In 2019, Father Stan Swamy, accused in the Bhima Koregaon case, had to undergo an emergency appendicitis operation because he had insisted on working till the very last day. The doctor wondered how the then 82-year-old Jesuit priest had borne the pain so long.
In the seven months that he has spent in Taloja jail, not once has Father Stan complained, except to ask for a straw and a sipper because Parkinson’s disease doesn’t allow him to have a steady grip on his cup.
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Crowded Jails & COVID: 16 Bhima Koregaon Accused’s Kin Share Fears

17/05/2021

The Quint / by Mekhala Saran

“Please allow us to take care of them,” beseech their family and friends.
“It looks like once you are a prisoner, there is no value for your life,” said Dr Jenny Rowena, a Delhi University professor and wife of Dr Hany Babu, an undertrial prisoner, at a press conference, organised by friends and family of the 16 accused in the Bhima Koregaon case.
Dr Babu is currently COVID-positive and admitted in Mumbai’s JJ Hospital with an acute eye infection that has affected his vision. Spreading to his cheeks and forehead, the infection has caused his eyes to bulge out.
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Also read/watch video: Bhima Koregaon, COVID-19 and custodial apathy in jails / Video + Press Release (May 15)