Trinamool Congress general secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee has once again approached the Supreme Court seeking permission to travel abroad for eye treatment. This comes days after the Calcutta High Court rejected his plea on the matter.
The Diamond Harbour MP's latest petition marks his second approach to the apex court over the issue. The date for the hearing is yet to be announced.
Background of the Eye Treatment Case
Banerjee had initially moved the Calcutta High Court last month seeking permission to travel overseas for ophthalmic treatment. During a hearing on 20 July, a single-judge Bench of Justice Sougata Bhattacharya advised him to first consult specialists at the state-run S.S.K.M. Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
According to The New Indian Express, in an oral observation, Justice Bhattacharyya said the TMC MP should appear before the head of ophthalmology at the state-run SSKM Hospital, who will decide whether Banerjee's eye issue can be treated there.
Calcutta High Court's Rejection
The Calcutta High Court denied Abhishek Banerjee permission for overseas eye treatment, dismissing his petition after he refused to appear as directed, as reported by Live Mint.
The court had indicated that it would consider whether overseas treatment was necessary after examining the opinion of specialists at the state-run hospital. The refusal to follow this direction led to the dismissal of his plea.
Supreme Court Appeal Details
Banerjee has now moved the Supreme Court against the Calcutta High Court order denying foreign travel permission for eye treatment. According to Live Law, this is his second approach to the apex court on this matter.
The development was also confirmed by The Hindu, which reported that the TMC MP has moved the Supreme Court seeking permission to travel abroad for eye treatment.
What Happens Next
The Supreme Court has not yet announced a date for hearing Banerjee's petition. The case raises questions about the balance between an individual's right to seek medical treatment of their choice and the court's process for verifying the necessity of overseas treatment.
As reported by ThePrint, the TMC MP's move to the Supreme Court comes after the Calcutta High Court's rejection of his earlier plea.
Our Take: A Matter of Process and Health
In our view, this case highlights an important tension in the legal system. On one hand, the courts want to ensure that overseas treatment is genuinely necessary before granting permission. On the other hand, a patient seeking medical care should not face unnecessary delays.
The Calcutta High Court's direction to consult at SSKM Hospital was a reasonable step to verify the medical need. However, the dismissal of the petition after Banerjee refused to appear suggests a breakdown in communication between the petitioner and the court.
What readers should understand is that this is not just about one politician's travel plans. It is about how courts handle requests for medical treatment abroad, and whether the process serves the patient's health interests or creates additional hurdles. The Supreme Court's decision on this petition will set a precedent for how such cases are handled in the future.
For now, all eyes are on the Supreme Court to see when it will hear the matter and what direction it will take.
