New Delhi: Leila Kabir, wife of ailing former
Defence Minister George Fernandes, today submitted before the
Delhi High court that her right to take care of her ailing
husband cannot be taken away by his brothers, who alleged that
they have been denied access to the veteran socialist leader.
"I am his lawfully wedded wife, whose status as a wife
has not changed and whose rights and obligations as a wife
cannot be interfered either by his brothers or his
companions," Kabir said in her affidavit filed in Delhi
High Court.
Kabir opposed the plea of Fernandes` brothers to appoint
a court officer to get the opinion of the politician regarding
the choice of person whom he would like to live with.
"There is neither occasion nor justification for the
appointment of local commissioner. There is no right to seek
such appointment," she said, adding, "Fernandes requires care
and concern, which is being provided by me and in the
circumstances, no other person, neither the companion nor his
brothers can substitute or replace me."
The family members of the 78-year-old leader are fighting
a legal battle for getting his custody. He is an Alzheimer`s
patient.
His brothers --Richard and Michael-- have alleged Kabir
was not allowing them to have 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.
Countering the allegations, Kabir alleged the suit was
filed at the instance of Fernandes` close aide Jaya Jaitley.
She said the brothers stayed outside Delhi and had never
visited the former minister. She claimed that the property
worth crores was the motivating factor for them to be here.
Earlier the court had asked the warring family members
to resolve their differences and provide best medical
treatment to the leader.
The counsel for both the parties had agreed to the
court`s suggestion to sit together to find out a solution but
they failed to come to an amicable settlement.
-PTI
