Extortion racket in Tihar jail: Delhi HC slams ‘lackadaisical approach’, seeks appearance of additional chief secy of home dept

In August, the Delhi HC was informed by the government that it had suspended nine Tihar jail officials and initiated disciplinary proceedings against them over such allegations. At the time, the government was instructed to file a report within two months, even as the court had orally asked the government to “follow disciplinary rules strictly”, under Central Civil Services (Conduct) Rules for proceeding with action against the suspended officials.

Perusing a status report filed by the government this month, which mentioned that it is contemplating initiating disciplinary proceedings against them and will request the vigilance department to appoint an officer to conduct a common disciplinary inquiry against all nine suspended officials, the bench expressed its displeasure.

Addressing the Delhi government’s counsel, the court remarked, “What have you been doing for the last two months? How long does it take for an inquiry officer to be appointed? If you want to, it can happen overnight. If you don’t want to, it will be limping over for months…We do not appreciate such a lackadaisical approach.”

“Even otherwise, placing an employee/official under suspension without any progress in disciplinary matters is not to be approved of. If disciplinary proceedings have been instituted, the same are to be taken to their logical conclusion at the earliest.”

On May 2, while dealing with a petition by one Mohit Kumar Goyal, alleging irregularities, illegalities, malpractices and misconduct that inmates are indulging in in connivance with jail authorities, to “exact illegal money”, the high court also directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct a preliminary inquiry into the allegations. It also directed the home department parallely to conduct an inquiry into the administrative lapses.

Last September, based on the allegations made in the petition, the HC directed the inspecting judge of Tihar jail to examine the evidence as well as allegations in the petition, and file his report.

The court, upon perusal of the report by the inspecting judge, which was submitted in sealed cover, had recorded that “very disturbing and startling facts have been revealed pointing not only to certain irregularities and illegalities in the functioning of Tihar jail but also to issues touching upon even criminal activities going on there”.

The report had also recorded how the official landline number in the jail was being “misused by vested interests for promoting nefarious activities”.