The Madras High Court has dismissed a petition seeking 'real' status of Tamil Nadu chief minister Jayalalithaa's health condition, dubbing it as a publicity stunt.
Observing that it should not be used for "political purposes", the first bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul said, it is a publicity interest litigation.
The PIL filed on Monday sought a detailed report from the government on the health of Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, undergoing treatment at a hospital here since 22 September.
"The hospital is already issuing health bulletins. PIL is dismissed," the court said.
The petitioner 'Traffic' Ramaswamy, a social activist, had submitted that the people of Tamil Nadu were eager to know about the health condition of Jayalalithaa.
The PIL also sought releasing of photographs of the meeting Jayalalithaa is said to have had with her cabinet colleagues and officials in the hospital.
Ramaswamy also wanted it to direct the Principal Secretary to the Governor to consider appointing an interim chief minister in accordance with law.
In his plea, the octogenarian petitioner submitted that rumours about the Chief Minister’s health were doing the rounds ever since she was was admitted in the hospital. They impacted life in the State, and in some areas in Chennai, even shops were closed.
The 68-year-old AIADMK leader was admitted to the Apollo Hospital after she complained of fever and dehydration.
PTI inputs
