The Madras high court on Tuesday ordered state officials in Tamil Nadu to submit information regarding Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa’s health by Wednesday, 12 days after the chief minister was admitted to Apollo Hospital in Chennai.
People are anxious to know about the health condition of the chief minister as some information is already in public domain, a division bench orally observed when a public interest litigation filed by social activist K R ‘Traffic’ Ramaswamy came up for hearing. Ramaswamy wanted to know the ‘real facts’ surrounding the chief minister’s illness and treatment being given to her.
The CM’s followers have been collecting each day outside the hospital praying for her good health.
However, rumours of her health and her well-being have been circulating with the Opposition -- the Dravida Munnetra Kazagham – asking the state government to publish images of the CM.
But, the state government has not released any official statement on the same. A bulletin released by the hospital on Monday said the health of the chief minister ‘continues to improve.’
Earlier, the Tamil Nadu police filed a case against an “unknown person” for allegedly circulating rumours about the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam supremo’s condition.
The case was filed under various sections of the IPC, including those dealing with “public mischief” and “promoting enmity between classes”.
Police said it was lodged on the basis of a complaint from AIADMK IT Wing secretary G Ramachandran, who alleged that the rumours were being circulated from a Facebook ID, 'Tamizhachi', suspected to be of a woman residing in France.
Police also warned rumour-mongers of strict legal action.
Image: AIADMK women workers take part in a spiritual procession of milk pots to a local temple praying for a speedy recovery for party supremo and Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa in Chennai. Photograph: PTI
