Concerned over Stan Swamy's failing health: NHRC writes to Maharashtra

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission on Sunday issued a notice to the Maharashtra government expressing its apprehensions over the deteriorating health condition of the 84-year-old Elgar Parishad accused Father Stan Swamy.

The direction has come in continuation of the earlier order of the NHRC wherein it had advised the state government to provide adequate medical care and treatment to Stan Swamy and submit a report within four weeks.

In the notice sent through the state's chief secretary, the NHRC has called upon him to ensure that all possible efforts are made in providing Swamy proper medical care and treatment as part of life-saving measures and protection of his basic human rights.

"The NHRC, looking into the complaint, alleging serious health condition of imprisoned Fr. Stan Swamy (84 years), has today issued a notice to the chief secretary, government of Maharashtra, calling upon him to ensure that every possible effort is made in providing him proper medical care and treatment as part of life-saving measure and protection of his basic human rights," PTI quoted NHRC's statement as saying.

Mr Swamy was put on ventilator support on Sunday afternoon after he faced severe breathing difficulties, as doctors examining him said he was in a critical condition and that his health could have deteriorated because of post-Covid complications, as per a PTI report.

The commission has also sought a report in the light of the allegations made in the complaint, and the treatment record of Swamy, who is very old and lodged in Taloja Jail, Navi Mumbai.

Meanwhile, UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders Mary Lawlor in a post on Twitter also made an appeal to the government for special treatment to the activist lodged in jail.

"Horrible news to learn that Indian Human Rights Defender Father Stan Swamy is in very serious condition and was put on a ventilator last night. He's spent 9 months in jail on unfounded charges. I'm deeply saddened and expect that every possible specialist treatment will be provided to him," Lawlor' tweet read.

Mr Swamy, a Jesuit priest who suffers from Parkinson's disease, along with his co-accused, has been charged by the National Investigating Agency (NIA) as being a member of frontal organisations working on behalf of the banned CPI (Maoists) and was named in the 2017 Elgar-Parishad case.