en | 2:47min | 2020
Al Jazeera English / by Elizabeth Pranam
Some of India’s most prominent rights activists remain in jail, most without formal charges, all without trial. We spoke to some of their families. Our story for @AJEnglish as the UN calls for the release of rights defenders
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Hindustan Times / by K A Y Dodhiya
The counsel for … Vernon Gonsalves, informed the court that his client had tested Covid-19 negative earlier this week and also spoke to his family members to convey his well-being to them.
The Bombay high court (HC) has directed Maharashtra government to inform the family members of academic and civil rights activist Dr. Anand Teltumbde, an accused in the Elgar Parishad/Bhima Koregaon case, about the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) test results.
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The Indian Express / by Express News Service
Vernon Gonsalves back in Taloja jail after testing negative for Covid-19.
A Division Bench of Justices R D Dhanuka and V G Bisht on Friday heard a petition by activist Vernon Gonsalves (61) and professor Teltumbde (68), who were co-accused Varavara Rao’s co-inmates at Taloja Central Jail, seeking they should be tested for Covid-19 for being in close contact with Rao.
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Hindustan Times / by K A Q Dodhiya
The state has informed the Bombay high court (HC) that the Covid-19 report of Elgar Parishad accused, activist Vernon Gonsalves, has come negative, while the test result of another accused, Dr Anand Teltumbde, is awaited.
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The Hindu / by Sonam Saigal
The Maharashtra government on Tuesday sought time to find out if COVID-19 test has been done on Anand Teltumbde lodged at the Taloja central jail.
A division bench of justices RD Dhanuka and VG Bisht was hearing two petitions filed by Vernon Gonsalves, 61, and Mr. Teltumbde, 68, urging the court to conduct a swab test on them too as they were in close proximity with Varavara Rao inside the jail.
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India Legal / by Srishti Ojha
Even though international treaties and the apex court have batted for the right of prisoners to healthcare, recent cases have shown that governments will show no leniency when it comes to activists.
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The Hindu / by Sonam Saigal
Hearing of the interim medical bail plea filed by Bhima-Koregaon case accused Sudha Bharadwaj was adjourned in the Bombay High Court on Monday after the court found the medical report submitted by the Byculla jail superintendent to be illegible.
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National Herald / by PTI
A division bench of Justices S S Shinde and S P Tavade asked the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the state to inform the court about Rao’s health condition and clarify by July 22 whether his family members could be permitted to see him.
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The Indian Express / by Express News Service
The Bombay High Court on Monday issued notices to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Maharashtra government and sought their responses on the plea filed by Varavara Rao’s co-inmates, who sought that they should be tested for Covid-19 too as they were in close contact with Rao at Taloja Central prison … The Court issued notices to NIA and state government and posted further hearing on Thursday, July 23.
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The Indian Express / by Express News Service
Two days after writer-poet Varavara Rao (80), accused in the Elgaar Parishad case, tested positive for Covid-19, 20 other inmates of Taloja Central Jail, including Vernon Gonsalves (61), a co-accused in the case, have tested negative, prison officials said Saturday.
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Live Law / by Nitish Kashyap
Vernon Gonsalves and Anand Teltumbde, both accused in the Bhima Koregaon case and lodged at Taloja jail, have filed a writ petition before the Bombay High Court on Friday seeking directions to the State to be tested for Covid-19 as they came in close contact with co-accused Varavara Rao who was admitted to the Hospital after testing positive for the virus.
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17/07/2020
Sabrangindia / by Sabrangindia
The jailed activists move Bombay High Court saying they were in close contact with poet Varavara Rao who recently tested positive.
In wake of 79-year-old activist poet Varavara Rao testing positive for Covid-19, two of his fellow inmates from Taloja Central Prison; activists Vernon Gonsalves and Anand Teltumbde have now moved Bombay High Court requesting that they too be tested as they were in close proximity of Rao.
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+++ Update July 17 by The Real Anand Teltumbde: Mr. VV Raos case though listed today could not be heard due to lack of time. This now moves to Monday +++
N Venugopal, Mr. VV Rao’s nephew writes:
News 18 / by PTI
Jailed writer and activist Varavara Rao, undergoing treatment at St George Hospital after testing positive for COVID-19, is also suffering from neurological problem and specialist doctors have been called to treat him, hospital officials said on Friday.
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Hindustan Times / by HT Correspondent
Poet and activist Varavara Rao, who was lodged at Taloja Jail as an undertrial in connection with the Elgar Parishad case, tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday. Rao, 81, is asymptomatic but will be treated with symptomatic drugs. His family has alleged criminal negligence by state authorities.
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15/07/2020
By Human Rights Defenders´ Alert – India
Human Rights Defenders Alert urges NHRC to intervene immediately. VV’s family in Mumbai since yesterday has been horrified to find him in a pathetic & unattended condition at hospital.
The Caravan / by Nileena MS
On the evening of 11 July, the 81-year-old poet Varavara Rao called his wife, Hemalatha, from the overcrowded Taloja Central Prison in Maharashtra, sounding incoherent and delirious, according to a press release circulated by his family …
Families and lawyers of others who have been imprisoned in connection to the Bhima Koregaon case have pointed out they are barely able to communicate with the inmates during the pandemic. At least four of the 11 undertrial prisoners have pre-existing medical conditions that make them vulnerable to the novel coronavirus.
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