Fernandes to stay with wife: Court

NEW DELHI - The Delhi High Court Monday said that there was no need for ailing former defence minister George Fernandes to change his place of residence and allowed his wife to take care of him till July 19.

After a one-hour in-chamber hearing, Justice V.K. Shali directed the socialist leader’s wife Leila Kabir to continue nursing him.

The court announced the decision after a hearing attended by Fernandes, his wife and two brothers. Along with his family members, an interpretor and a priest were also present in the court.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Fernandes’ brothers, Richard and Michael, seeking custody of their brother alleging that the former minister and convenor of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), who is suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, was not being properly treated by his wife.

Fernandes was seen talking to his wife and brothers in English. His brothers, however, talked to him in Konkani while he responded in English.

His brothers claimed that he recognized them. “He is not very well. He needs proper medical attention,” they said.

The court July 1 asked Kabir to present the Fernandes before it. “The court wants to ascertain what he wants. The person who, due to some incapability, was not able to be heard, the court wants to know what is in his mind to settle the issue,” Shali said.

An application was also filed by his brothers seeking the constitution of a medical board to assess his health condition.

The family members of the leader are fighting a legal battle for getting his custody.

His brothers have alleged that Kabir was not allowing them access to the veteran leader. They also alleged that she was staying separately from Fernandes for the past 25 years and had now come back to him as she was eyeing his property.