SC Relief To Terminally Ill Convicted Ukrainian National: Directs Treatment In Private Hospital & Expeditious verdict [Read Order]

The Supreme Court, on Friday, directed the Madras High Court to delivered its judgment as expeditiously as possible in the Appeal filed by a Ukrainian national, Mr. Dudnyk Valentyn, who has been convicted under the Arms Act.

The Bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud noted that Mr. Valentyn was diagnosed with prostate cancer and multiple skeletal, nodal and liver metastases. It therefore permitted him to be treated at the Apollo Hospital, allowing his family members to attend to him during his treatment.

Mr. Valentyn, along with 22 foreigners, was convicted in January last year by a Trial Court in Tuticorin in south Tamil Nadu. The 23 convicts were onboard a detained U.S. anti-piracy vessel ‘MV Seaman Guard Ohio’ and were convicted under provisions of the Arms Act. They were sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for a period of five years for illegally entering Indian waters with a huge cache of arms and ammunition in October, 2013. Mr. Valentyn had then appealed to the High Court.

He, however, now pointed out that High Court had reserved its judgment in November last year and has not pronounced it even after a period of 11 months. In view of this submission, the Apex Court had, last week, directed the High Court to pronounce its judgment on Mr. Valentyn's Appeal within two weeks.