The brothers of ailing former Union minister George Fernandes today alleged in the Delhi high court that he was not getting proper treatment for Alzheimer's disease and sought constitution of an independent medical board to examine his health condition.
Justice VK Shali issued notice to Fernandes' wife Leila Kabir with whom the veteran leader is staying and posted the application filed by his brothers, Richard and Michael for hearing on November 10.
Meanwhile, the court which is hearing the legal battle for custody Fernandes between his wife and brothers, outlined issues for adjudication.
The court framed two questions -- whether the brothers or Kabir have the right to take custody of Fernandes and whether the ailing leader can be allowed to travel abroad along with his wife and son Sean.
The brothers, who have an estranged relationship with their sister-in-law alleged that Fernandes was not getting proper treatment and his health has been deteriorating.
They submitted that the health condition of their brother had improved while he was getting treatment at AIIMS but after January this year he was being treated at a private hospital.
In this background, Fernandes siblings sought that a new medical board be constituted involving doctors from the Max Hospital as well as from AIIMS to examine his health condition.
"Constitute a medical board of qualified doctors specialising in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease to examine Fernandes's health condition," the brothers said in the application.
The applicants further sought the court to direct the Board to place on record a report after examining the socialist leader.
The high court in an interim order in July this year had allowed Fernandes, the 80 year-old leader, to stay with wife for the time being and had asked the brothers to visit him.
The brothers had filed the lawsuit alleging that their sister-in-law was not allowing them to have access to Fernandes.
They had sought a direction that Kabir should allow them to visit Fernandes.
According to them, Kabir was staying separately from Fernandes for the last 25 years and returned only after he fell ill so that she can get his properties worth crores of rupees.
