CHENNAI: An undertaking was filed before the Justice (retd) A Arumughaswamy Commission on Wednesday by Apollo Hospitals counsel, Maimoona Badsha, stating that their doctors and non-medical staff will appear before the commission on April 25, if they don’t have a stay order from the Apex Court.

The commission is exploring the circumstances surrounding the death of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa. Around 10 doctors and a few non-medical staff were scheduled to appear on Wednesday.

Apollo approached the Apex Court against the Madras High Court’s verdict last week, rejecting its plea for forming a medical board to assist the commission. The hospital filed an adjournment application stating that it had obtained a diary number from the Supreme Court.

Sources revealed that there were arguments between Badsha and the commission. The commission first refused to accept Badsha’s contentions on behalf of the doctors stating that she did not represent them. Later, it asked Badsha to file the undertaking.

Raja Senthoor Pandian, counsel for V K Sasikala, stated that he asked the panel to summon Deputy Chief Minister, O Pannerselvam, and that he had evaded appearing before it seven times. Pandian said that OPS had once challenged Health Minister, C Vijayabaskar, about appearing before the commission. Vijayabaskar has appeared, but OPS has not, he said.

The High Court had declined Apollo’s plea last week and stated that 90% of the panel’s proceedings were complete and that a medical committee was already assisting them. Pandian said that Apollo’s plea was for a 22-member medical board, not a 4-member committee that is assisting the panel currently.