Chandra’s activities inside jail: SC directs state, Centre to pave way for Tihar

A bench of justices Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud and MR Shah said, “We want to see concrete action on the ground,” as it directed the governments to file status reports by April 13, apprising it of the steps taken pursuant to the recommendations for reforms at Tihar Jail prepared by Delhi Police commissioner Rakesh Asthana.

In an attempt to crack down on corruption at Tihar Jail after 32 prison officials were suspended last year for abetting criminal activities of former Unitech promoters Sanjay and Ajay Chandra, the Supreme Court on Wednesday directed the central and Delhi governments to immediately issue all clearances required to install infrastructure necessary to ramp up security and surveillance in and around the prison, in a bid to avoid officers from partaking in such acts in future.

To ensure no contraband is brought in from outside by inmates, the Court directed the installation of full body scanners and CCTV cameras within two weeks.

A bench of justices Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud and MR Shah said, “We want to see concrete action on the ground,” as it directed the governments to file status reports by April 13, apprising it of the steps taken pursuant to the recommendations for reforms at Tihar Jail prepared by Delhi Police commissioner Rakesh Asthana.

Asthana’s report recommended additional CCTV cameras, full body scanners and cellphone jammers as immediate measures needed to curb such incidents, besides also proposing long-term measures in recruitment policy for jail staff, training and sensitisation programmes, upgrading medical infrastructure in jail, skill training and incentivising good conduct among prisoners, apart from also pitching for the regular transfer of jail officers to prevent their close association with inmates.

The Court said, “On the proposal for ensuring there are no cellphone towers in the immediate vicinity of Tihar Jail and jammer facility to be implemented by the Delhi government in coordination with the department of telecommunications (DoT), sanction to implement this recommendation must be given immediately.”

To ensure no contraband is brought in from outside by inmates, the Court directed the installation of full body scanners and CCTV cameras within two weeks.

The Delhi government, represented by advocate Gautam Narayan, informed the Court that three months’ time will be required for changes in policy with regard to transfer and recruitment of jail officials. He said that as a fallout of the incident, 28 non-gazetted staff, two gazetted staff and two contract employees at Tihar Jail were suspended in October last year and that a criminal probe is pending against them for their involvement in abetting the Chandra brothers’ activities inside prison.

The bench said, “Those recommendations that can be implemented in the immediate future, do it soon, and those measures which require amendment of rules can be done later.” Posting the matter for hearing on April 20, the bench directed the two governments to file a status report by April 13.

“You have to apprise us of the steps taken, the security equipment purchased and installed, and deputation of police pickets around jail by the next date,” the bench said.