HC seeks report on mgmt of Covid cases in U’khand jails
DEHRADUN: Uttarakhand high court directed the state government to submit a report by May 6 on the number of prisoners, who have tested Covid-19 positive, availability of the medical facilities for their treatment, how they are being quarantined and availability of oxygen tanks, oxygen beds for such patients.
There are over 6,500 prisoners lodged in 11 jails.
Ajay Veer Pundir, counsel of the petitioner said that HC gave these directions while responding to a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by Haridwar-based activist Omveer Singh last week. The petition stated there are several under investigation and under trial prisoners in Uttarakhand, who were facing difficulties due to the emergent situation arises due to the pandemic and regular hearing of their respective cases and pending bails were not being held due to the situation. HT has a copy of the order.,
The HC order stated that “the chief Standing Counsel for the State of Uttarakhand, is directed to submit a report with regard to the number of jails, the population of each jail in both the categories of under-trial prisoners and convicted prisoners, the number of the prisoners, who have come down with Covid-19, the availability of the medical facilities for dealing with those, who are suffering from Covid-19, the number of staff, which are equally affected, the facilities available for quarantining, the medical facilities within the jail, the availability of oxygen tanks, oxygen beds and ventilators, if any, the availability of protective gears such as PPE kits, masks and gloves. The IG, Prisons, is directed to be present before this Court through video conference”. The PIL stated that considering the first wave of Covid, the Supreme Court had passed an order dated March 23, 2020, issuing several directions to the states for the release of prisoners by constituting a review committee.
The PIL alleged that in compliance with the directions of the apex court, a High Powered Committee was constituted comprising executive chairman of State Legal Service Authority (SLSA), Principal Secretary Home/Prison and Director General of Prisons but as of now when the situation is more critical due to the spread of the second wave, prisoners are not being released on parole or interim bail.
AP Anshuman, Inspector General of Prisons Uttarakhand said that currently there are around 50 active cases of Covid in jails across the state. He said they are taking all possible measures to timely detect cases and check the spread of the infection in the jails.
Hundreds of prisoners have tested positive in Uttarakhand since the pandemic started in the state in March last year. Last month, 21 jail inmates at Sampoorna Nand central jail in Sitarganj, Udham Singh Nagar district tested positive.
It was on May 31 last year, when for the first time amid lockdown, five prisoners had tested positive in Sitarganj jail in US Nagar, ringing alarm bells among the jail authorities here. In September last year, 51 jail inmates and one jail staffer of Nainital district jail tested positive. In the same month, 95 prisoners tested positive in Sitarganj central jail.
Overall, the state has around 6500 prisoners lodged in its 11 jails having a capacity of around 3600, said senior officials in the police department. After the first case was detected on March 15, the jail authorities had started taking measures to ensure inmates don’t get infected.They said all people entering jails were being screened to detect the symptoms of the virus in them. Also jail premises were being cleaned regularly with staffers working with masks on.