Panaji, December 20: The Panaji bench of the Bombay High Court dismissed a petition seeking medical examination of ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar while upholding his right to privacy. The court also ruled that ill-health does not make one incapable to occupy the constitutional position. Ailing Goa CM Manohar Parrikar Makes Rare Public Appearance, Inspects 2 Under-Construction Bridges.

A petition was filed by social activist Trajano D'Mello concerning Parrikar's health update. The petitioner demanded that Dharmendra Sharma conduct a health evaluation of Goa CM Manohar Parrikar's health through a panel of doctors. Manohar Parrikar Health Update: Goa CM Meets BJP MLAs at Residence, Minister Mauvin Godinho Says He's 'Recovering Well'.

The petition was called a “half-hearted attempt” in order to make “serious inroads in the territory of privacy of an individual” by a two-bench judge comprising Justices Prithviraj K Chavan and RM Borde.

Parrikar is suffering from advanced pancreatic cancer and has been in and out of hospitals in Goa, Mumbai, New York and Delhi for nearly nine months. The Opposition has been demanding Parrikar's resignation on account of his prolonged ill-health.

However, the ailing Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar on Sunday inspected an under-construction bridge on Mandovi River. This was the first time that he was been seen in public since returning to the state on October 14 post hospitalisation in Delhi's AIIMS. He later inspected the work of a bridge over Zuari River near Agassaim village, some 15 kilometres from here.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 20, 2018 07:15 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).