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Justice Yashwant Varma of Delhi High Court today directed Tihar jail authorities to provide a list of government hospitals with adequate security and a neurosurgeon which could treat Babbar Khalsa terrorist Jagtar Singh Hawara.

Hawara who has been convicted in a case involving murder of 17 persons including Beant Singh, the former Chief Minister of Punjab, has moved the Delhi High Court to be admitted in a hospital and be treated for his health problems. Hawara was lodged at Budhail Jail in Chandigarh in relation to the above case as an under trial. 
At Budhail, he dug a tunnel in the jail and absconded in January 2004. In June 2005, he was re-arrested in Delhi in another case and was transmitted to Chandigarh from Delhi. The Chief Metropolitan Magistrate in Delhi found that Hawara was a hardened criminal and was also a high risk convict in the case of murder. The CM further directed the Superintendent of Tihar Jail to keep Hawara in a high risk cell, he has been lodged at the central jain in Delhi since then.

Hawara had in 2018 moved a habeas corpus petition asking the Delhi High Court to direct the Tihar Jail authorities to release him as he claimed to be  illegally detained there, the High Court however refused to entertain his plea. Hawara had moved a petition in 2020 seeking directions of the court to undergo a cataract surgery, the court granted him the permission and he duly underwent a surgery.

When the matter came up today for hearing, the counsel for Hawara submitted that he needs to undergo a neurological check as he is experiencing some difficulties. He further submitted that Hawara is open to be examined after being sedated. The court at this point noted that considering his history, Hawara should be treated in a hospital with adequate security facilities.

Thus the court in its order recorded that it has gone through the status report and bearing in mind the nature of the issue let directed the jail authorities to place a list of government hospitals with neuro surgeons available.
The court further noted that the hospital should be one where there are appropriate security arrangements in order to ensure no untoward incident happens. The matter will now come up in two weeks.

Case title: Jagtar Singh Hawara Vs Superintendent, Tihar Jail