The Supreme Court of India has permitted Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament Abhishek Banerjee to travel abroad for eye treatment [1].
The ruling resolves a legal conflict regarding the movement of the party general secretary, who had previously been denied permission to seek specialized medical care outside the country.
The decision, delivered on Monday, allows Banerjee to travel for a period of three weeks [1]. This order sets aside a previous ruling by the Calcutta High Court, which had denied his plea to leave the country [2].
Banerjee sought the travel to receive eye treatment that could not be provided within India [2]. The Supreme Court bench that granted the request was headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant [3].
The case highlighted a disagreement between the lower court and the top court regarding the necessity of the medical trip. While the Calcutta High Court had initially blocked the request, the Supreme Court found the medical grounds sufficient to grant the short-term travel window [1], [2].
Banerjee serves as a key figure within the Trinamool Congress, holding both a seat in Parliament and a senior leadership role as general secretary. The court did not specify the foreign location where the treatment will take place, only the duration of the permitted absence [1].
“The Supreme Court of India has permitted Trinamool Congress Member of Parliament Abhishek Banerjee to travel abroad for eye treatment”
This ruling demonstrates the Supreme Court's willingness to prioritize medical necessity over restrictive travel orders issued by lower courts. By overturning the Calcutta High Court's decision, the top court establishes that access to specialized healthcare unavailable domestically can serve as a valid legal ground for travel, even for high-profile political figures under judicial scrutiny.
