Serving Life Term in Rape Case, Asaram Granted Bail by High Court for Treatment

Jodhpur: Rape convict Asaram, who is serving a life sentence in Jodhpur central Jail for sexual assault, received a major relief from the Rajasthan High Court on Thursday.

What did the court say?

The bench headed by Justice Sanjeet Purohit, in view of Asaram's steadily deteriorating health, directed the jail administration to provide him with adequate medical facilities. The High Court clarified in its order that if Asaram's health worsens, he will be allowed to seek treatment at an Ayurveda hospital.

What happen in previous hearing?

On behalf of Asaram, lawyers R.S. Saluja, Nishant Bodha, Yashpal Singh Rajpurohit, and Bharat Saini represented the case. A hearing in this case was held earlier on Wednesday, but it remained inconclusive. The High Court asked the state government and prison administration whether the court's previous orders were being followed. 

In the previous order, the court had ordered Asaram to receive timely treatment, medication, and a home-cooked meal. The government requested some time to respond.

What about his health?

On Tuesday evening, Asaram's health suddenly deteriorated in Jodhpur jail. He was immediately admitted to Jodhpur's Arogya Hospital for treatment.

Recently, the court categorically refused to extend Asaram's interim bail granted on health grounds. His bail had been continuously extended for nearly two years, but the court had put a stay on it. In the last hearing, the court strongly remarked that in such serious cases, the respect, safety, and justice of the victim are more important than the rights of the accused.