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Journalism of Courage
Slamming the “sorry state of affairs” in Tihar jail, the Supreme Court on Wednesday said that there was an “urgent need for prison reforms and enhanced prison management”. It also asked the Union Home Ministry to appraise it about the follow-up action on recommendations made in this regard by the Delhi Police Commissioner.
A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and M R Shah referred to its October 6 order wherein it had asked the Ministry to respond to suggestions in the report of Delhi Police chief Rakesh Asthana and to draw up an action plan for implementing them. Noting that this had not been complied with, the bench asked the concerned secretary in the Home Ministry to do this within three weeks.
“Neither has any action plan been made nor any progress has been shown with regards to the steps that had to be taken,” the bench told Additional Solicitor General K M Nataraj, who had submitted that there were multiple recommendations that were under consideration by the government.
“Consideration means what? There are some immediate reforms necessary. There needs to be body scanners to ensure that there is no unauthorised use of mobile phones,” Justice DY Chandrachud said.
“Some murders have taken place. These recommendations that have been made by the Commissioner of Delhi Police, you have to take prompt action,” Justice Shah said.
The court was a hearing a matter in which it had ordered shifting of beleaguered real estate firm Unitech Ltd’s promoters Sanjay and Ajay Chandra, who were lodged in Tihar Jail, to Arthur Road Jail and Taloja Central Jail following a report by the Enforcement Directorate which stated that the duo was having a free run in Tihar and were even flouting the jail manual in connivance with officials.
It also asked Asthana to personally investigate the allegations.
After perusing the police commissioner’s report on October 6, the SC had given the go ahead for a full-fledged criminal investigation into the charges and also ordered immediate suspension of the officials named in Asthana’s report.
On Wednesday, the ASG informed the Bench that police had registered an FIR under various Sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and Indian Penal Code against 32 jail officials, the Chandras and some of their staff members. He added that the report of the Commissioner has been submitted to the MHA which is considering many of its suggestions to bring about various jail reforms.
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