DG PRISONS MUST INSPECT MEDICAL FACILITY IN TIHAR: HC

New Delhi, Nov. 20: The Delhi high court opn Monday asked the directorgeneral, prisons to inspect the Tihar Jail here to ascertain whether inmates have access to medical and basic facilities such as sufficient number of toilets.

A bench comprising acting chief justice Gita Mittal and justice C. Hari Shankar asked the DG, Prisons to look whether there was sufficient cleanliness in the central prison.

The HC was prompted to issue the directions based over a news report which said that a court in the UK had refused India’s request to extradite a suspected bookie as it felt that the conditions in which he would be kept in Tihar would be a violation of his human rights.

The bench noted that the prison was ‘ hopelessly overcrowded’ and inmates have claimed there were not enough toilets and medical treatment was given belatedly.

The HC directed the DG, Prisons to carry out the inspection and file a report before the next date of hearing on Dec. 18. The bench referred to the news report, while hearing a PIL initiated by it after several prisoners moved the HC complaining about inhuman conditions and lack of medical and employment facilities at the newly- commissioned Mandoli Jail in the capital.

The prisoners had written letters to the HC about their plight inside the jail.