State govt given time to reply to PIL on security in jails

LUCKNOW:The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court has given time to the state counsel to seek instructions from the state government to place its reply on a public interest litigation (PIL) petition, raising the issue of security of jails in Uttar Pradesh.

A division bench of chief justice Dilip B Bhosale and justice Vivek Chaudhary passed the order on a public interest litigation filed by ML Yadav, a local lawyer.

Citing the alleged murder of gangster Prem Prakash Singh alias Munna Bajrangi in Baghpat jail, as reported in newspapers, the petitioner submitted he was shocked to know the incident as it exposed the poor security in jails.

The petitioner alleged that 71 jails of the state were overcrowded and 13 district jails were functioning without jail superintendents. Each jail had only half the sanctioned staff strength, he claimed.

Pistols, mobile phones and other prohibited items were available in jails, he alleged, adding 47 jails did not have CCTV cameras.

The petitioner sought a direction to provide/ensure sufficient infrastructure in all jails of UP. He also sought a detailed inquiry by an independent agency like the CBI into the killing of Munna Bajrangi in Baghpat jail early this month.

The counsel for the state sought time to seek instructions from the state government to place its reply with regard to the PIL on record.

The court granted time for the same and directed to list the public interest litigation on August 21.

A DIVISION BENCH OF CHIEF JUSTICE DILIP B BHOSALE AND JUSTICE VIVEK CHAUDHARY PASSED THE ORDER ON A PIL FILED BY ML YADAV, A LOCAL LAWYER