Court deprecates practice of getting hospitalised on bail

"It may be mentioned that the practice of being admitted in the hospital after obtaining interim bail from High Court of Delhi, vide order passed by the High Court of Delhi is deprecated," Additional Sessions Judge Ramesh Kumar Singhal said.

While disapproving of the practice adopted by accused to get hospitalised, the court pointed out that proper medical facilities are given to inmates in jail, if required.

"Further, it may be emphasized that proper medical facilities are being given to the inmates in the jail. Hence, the accused was duty bound to surrender before the concerned jail authorities, after the expiry of the 15 day interim bail granted by the High Court of Delhi," the judge said.

"The accused, Asha Rani is hereby directed to surrender herself, immediately, before the concerned jail authorities, subject to intimation to this court," the court ordered.

The court's order came on an application moved by Rani, informing the court about her inability to surrender in judicial custody on expiry of her interim bail due to hospitalisation.

Asha was granted 15-day interim bail by the Delhi High Court on January 4 on a personal bond of Rs 20,000 and a surety. She was released on bail on January 8. Her bail was to expire on January 23. However, she had not surrendered on the said day.

In an application before the sessions court, Asha had said that on January 22 she got admitted in Rao Tula Ram Hospital due to severe abdominal pain and was discharged on January 28.

However, on the very same day, there was sudden deterioration in her health due to which she was again admitted to the hospital and has been there since then, she had said.

The accused had said in her application that she was willing to surrender herself to judicial custody but could not do so owing to her health and hospitalisation.

She had pleaded in her application that the court may pass appropriate directions permitting her to surrender in judicial custody while remaining in hospital.

The prosecution had sought issuance of non-bailable warrants against Rani, contending that she had failed to turn herself in after the expiry of interim bail.