Allow Prabha’s mom to visit India - HC to govt

The Madras high court has directed the Government of India to permit slain LTTE leader Velupillai Prabakaran’s mother, Parvathi Ammal, to visit India and undergo treatment here as and when she approaches them for the facility.

A division bench comprising Justice Elipe Dharma Rao and Justice KK Sasidharan passed the order on a petition filed by advocate R Karuppan, who contended that Parvathi Ammal was illegally denied entry into India a couple of months ago and was forced to return to Malaysia in the same flight even though she possessed a valid medical visa issued by the Indian high commission in Malaysia.

The government, which granted conditional permission for Parvathi Ammal, later relaxed the conditions for her stay and treatment in Tamil Nadu. However, even before the order could be served on her, she had been flown to Sri Lankaby her relatives and friends.

When the matter came up before the bench a couple of weeks ago, the judges asked the Centre to personally ascertain the views of Parvathi on her intention to visit Indiafor treatment. Accordingly, on Tuesday the assistant solicitor-general of India, J Ravindran, filed an affidavit stating that consular authorities from Indiaand Sri Lankamet Parvathi on May 11, and that she was not in a condition to talk. On May 12, a Sri Lankan member of parliament informed the officials that her decision on visiting Indiahad been deferred.

On Wednesday, recording the statement, the judges said: “‘Whenever a representative of Parvathi Ammal intimates the Indian high commission at Colombo that she is willing to undergo treatment in India, the Indian authorities are directed to allow her to undergo treatment in India.”‘

As for Karuppan’s other submissions such as compensation and treatment package, the judge said they could be decided in “‘appropriate proceedings.”‘

^TOI