SC wants Punjab govt to shift fasting farmer leader Dallewal to makeshift hospital

New Delhli - The Supreme Court on Friday asked the Punjab Advocate General to get an affidavit from the state Chief Secretary and DGP undertaking during the course of the day to shift farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on fast unto death since November 26, to a makeshift hospital set up near the protest site. “We want Chief Secretary and DGP both to file an affidavit today with an undertaking that you will shift him (Dallewal) to the makeshift hospital and provide all requisite medical aid continuously,” a Bench led by Justice Surya Kant told Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh. As Singh said he would like to take instructions the Bench said it will take up the matter at 2:30 pm. The direction came after the Advocate General said that on Thursday doctors were able to conduct all medical tests on Dallewal. “The ECG was normal… we have taken blood samples...report I have sent to the court. Largely, all parameters in blood report are within limit, except four…,” Singh told the Bench which had on Thursday pulled up the Punjab Government for not conducting medical tests on Dallewal. Singh said “At the moment, it seems we are in control of the situation. His heart condition not affected at all…About 20 tests on blood sample were performed… two parameters are marginally abnormal.” As Justice Kant asked which part was abnormal, the Advocate General said, “Creatinine is slightly up. Uric acid is high for which medication is required. But he has refused… On cancer status, we have found that his PSA values are slightly high but not dangerous.” The Bench also sought to know if CT scan had been done. It asked the AG to shift Dallewal to the off-site makeshift hospital. “We will try and do that, subject to a little cooperation from farmers,” Singh told the Bench. On Thursday, the top court had pulled up the Punjab Government for not conducting medical tests on Dallewal despite doctors attending on him opining that his condition was deteriorating. “We first want him to be provided medical aid. Why is that priority being overlooked? We want to know about his health condition and all health parameters. That can only be after he is subjected to certain tests. Nobody should take us for granted,” Justice Kant had said. “You (Punjab Government) people are saying he is alright, not the medical doctors… Doctors say he is refusing tests. You want civil/police officers to perform the duty of doctors? How is a doctor able to tell that a person who is sitting there for the last 21 days on hunger strike… of the age of 73-75 years with serious ailments (is alright)...You bring that doctor who gives guarantee that he is absolutely perfect,” it had told Punjab Advocate General. Asking the Punjab Government to look for alternate ways to provide him medical air immediately, the Bench had said, “Please convince him to go to hospital for a week to take treatment and then resume his fast unto death. There are other leaders who can continue the protest.” Giving the example of Irom Sharmila of Manipur, the Bench had suggested that Dallewal can continue with his protest and fast unto death under medical supervision. Dallewal has been on a fast unto death at the Khanauri border point between Punjab and Haryana since November 26 to press for the acceptance of farmers’ demands.