(UNI) Delhi High Court Justice Veena Birbal recused herself from hearing the plea of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's wife Dayalu Ammal, 83, who had challenged a trial court order dismissing her plea for exemption from appearing as a witness in the 2G case on health grounds.
Justice Birbal, who had asked CBI to file its response today, recused herself from hearing the case, citing no particular reason.
She said she cannot hear the case and referred it to another judge in charge of criminal matters.
Appearing for Ms Ammal, lawyer Sudhir Nandrajog sought early date for the next hearing.
Mr Karunanidhi's wife was summoned as a prosecution witness listed by the CBI in the 2G spectrum case.
The trial court has summoned her on July 8 but Ms Ammal sought exemption from appearing on health grounds.
Her plea was dismissed on May 31 in which she had asked exemption from appearance in the trial court to depose in the case.
To this, Ms Ammal approached the HC, saying that she is not mentally sound and tends to forget even her close relatives.
Lawyer Nandrajog told the court that the octogenarian's health is very fragile and she has been diagnosed with cognitive and behavioural abnormalities in June last year.
She is progressively and gradually losing recognition of even her near and dear ones, he added.
The advocate placed before the court a medical report of Ms Ammal done in the Central Government Hospital.
He also asked the court that a medical board shall be constituted to ascertain her health conditions. UNI
