Clear air on Jayalalithaa's health by tomorrow: Madras High Court to TN govt

Chennai, Oct 4: The Madras High Court on Tuesday asked the Tamil Nadu government to clear confusion about Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa's health.

According to news agency ANI, the government lawyer has been asked to submit the information to the court tomorrow.

The instructions from the Madras High Court came in response to a petition asking the AIADMK government statement amid speculation that Jayalalithaa, 68, is seriously unwell and her party is trying to keep it a secret.

The petition also asked that an interim chief minister be appointed as she recovers at the Apollo hospital in Chennai.

Jayalalithaa was hospitalised on September 22 with fever and dehydration.

Her party AIADMK has vehemently denied reports that she is critically ill and said that she is recovering well.

"Apollo hospital authorities say that her treatment is going well. She needs rest and she is recovering. She is hale and healthy and will come back soon," said CR Saraswathi, a party spokesperson, on Tuesday.

Over the weekend, the party confirmed that a UK specialist was flown in to supervise her recovery.

With curiosity about the Chief Minister's health fuelling questions on who is in-charge, a party leader said that a team of six officials and aides - who have also been visiting the hospital - are running the show for now.

The team includes four private secretaries, tasked with overseeing all 54 government departments, the Chief Secretary and Sheela Balakrishnan, the official adviser to the Chief Minister and long-time aide.

Opposition leaders like the DMK's M Karunanidhi have urged the Chief Minister's party to release a photograph to prove she is not critical, but the AIADMK has rejected the demand.

The party has also filed four police cases against people who misreported her health on social media.