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The Centre on Thursday categorically told the Delhi high court that it is against deporting terminally-ill foreign under trials languishing in Indian jails.
The government apprehended that the international drug mafia might use such people as conduits.
During the hearing of a bail application of an AIDS-infected Swiss woman seeking deportation to her country, Additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra submitted before Justice B D Ahmed said, "Our hospitals are well equipped to offer treatment to such patients."
The court then asked why should the government spend money on them.
Justice Ahmed, who termed the government's stand as 'a little strange', asked the ASG to file an affidavit in this regard. The matter was posted for hearing on May 9.
Petitioner's counsel Rakesh Tiku said the Centre must tell the court if it has formulated any policy on terminally ill foreigners languishing in jails on account of cases pending against them in various courts across India as directed by a Division Bench a few years ago.
The 38-year-old Swiss woman is lodged in Tihar jail in a drugs smuggling case. She had moved the court for her release on bail to go back to her country for treatment of the deadly disease.