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Petition seeking Parrikar’s health details is ‘fishing’ enquiry: Goa CS (Lead)
Panaji, Dec 7 (IANS) Dubbing a public interest litigation seeking to know the health status of ailing Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar as a “roving and fishing” enquiry, Goa Chief Secretary Dharmendra Sharma on Friday told the Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court that disclosing Parrikar’s health records will set a “dangerous precedent” for the future and allow indiscriminate access to medical records of highly-placed persons citing “public interest”.
The disclosure was made in form of an affidavit by the top bureaucrat, in connection with a petition being heard by the court, which seeks public disclosure of the health status of ailing Parrikar.
While skirting the issue of status of the Goa Chief Minister’s health, which has been sought by social activist Trajano D’Mello in his petition filed last month, the top bureaucrat said that details about the former Defence Minister’s health could not be disclosed in the public domain “merely because he holds a public office”, and argued for Parrikar’s right to privacy.
Sharma also rejected a charge made in the petition that two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) office-bearers were clearing files by forging Parrikar’s signature, calling it a “defamatory” accusation.
“The present petition although captioned as a public interest litigation is nothing but a roving and fishing inquiry. It is based on anecdotal statements and relies upon surmises and conjectures of the petitioner,” Sharma said in his affidavit, which was submitted to the high court’s Registrar in Panaji, even as the court is scheduled to hear the matter on December 10.
Sharma also cautioned against accepting the petitioner’s request for making public Parrikar’s health status by the court.
“I say that if the contentions of the petitioner are accepted, the same will set a very dangerous precedent where everybody/ anybody will start asking for medical records of persons occupying high office using the masquerade of ‘public interest’. I say that it will be impossible to draw a line on what health problem, howsoever minor or major, should be disclosed to the public,” Sharma said.
There could be no “larger public interest in disclosing the personal details of any person”, he said and added that health problems of a person cannot be subjected to scrutiny, as the same amounts to unwarranted invasion of a person’s privacy.
Commenting on the charge made in the petition which alleges, quoting media reports, that two BJP office bearers were forging Parrikar’s signatures while clearing government business, the Chief Secretary said: “This respondent denies allegation of the petitioner that there are two senior BJP office-bearers who are clearing the files of the Chief Minister by forging his signature…the averment is also defamatory to a mainstream political party, who has not been impleaded into the present petition.”
Parrikar is suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer and has been in and out of hospitals in Goa, Mumbai, New York and Delhi for nearly nine months.
He returned from New Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences on October 14 and has not moved out of his private residence ever since for any official event.
The opposition, as well ruling coalition allies, have been demanding the resignation of the Chief Minister, claiming that the administration has come to a standstill due to Parrikar’s absence.
Petitioner Trajano D’Mello has sought that the court direct the state’s Chief Secretary to evaluate the former Defence Minister’s health by a panel of expert doctors and release the medical report in public domain.
–IANS
maya/nir
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma
World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.
Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.
During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.
On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”
Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.
It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.
Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.
Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”
On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”
The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.
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