Work out number of physiotherapists in 3 jails, HC tells govt

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High court on Friday asked the AAP government to work out the number of trained physiotherapists in the three jails of the national Capital.

Justice Mukta Gupta issued the direction to the secretary of the health department, Delhi government, after it was informed that there was not even a single physiotherapist in the three prisons—tihar, Mandoli and Rohini.

“The health department secretary will inform within four weeks what further action he proposes to take,” the court said.

The court was hearing a plea by Jagtar Singh Hawara, who is undergoing life sentence for conspiring to assassinate former Punjab CM Beant Singh. Hawara, who is lodged in Tihar Jail, has sought special facilities for the treatment of his back pain and other spinal problems.

Appearing for the Delhi government, standing counsel (crim- inal) Rahul Mehra submitted an affidavit, stating there was no physiotherapist in the three jails and 2-3 trained persons will be soon made available by an NGO.

To this, Hawara’s counsel advocate Maninder Singh contended that it was a serious issue that in the three prisons, where thousands of inmates are lodged, there was not even a single physiotherapist and the prisoners have to be taken out to other hospitals in case of any such medical issue despite various orders of the HC.

The affidavit, submitted on behalf of the DG (prisons), stated that the process of recruiting physiotherapists on a contract basis had been completed and the file had been sent to the health department for necessary approval of the competent authority. It said the Delhi government had invited online applications for 17 vacancies of physiotherapists and the last date was August 13. The court has now fixed October 23 as the next date of hearing.