Delhi HC asks director general of prisons about discipline measures in jails

The Delhi high court has asked the director general of prisons (DGP) regarding the measures taken to make the functioning of prisons “more conducive” so that inmates maintain discipline and incidents of violence are curtailed

The Delhi high court has asked the director general of prisons (DGP) regarding the measures taken to make the functioning of prisons “more conducive” so that inmates maintain discipline and incidents of violence are curtailed.

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On July 15, a bench of justices Siddharth Mridul and Anup Jairam Bhambhani, while hearing a plea raising the issue of violence perpetrated on the inmates by jail authorities, sought the assistance of DGP Sandeep Goel on the issue of use of excess force on the prisoners to discipline them.

“Let requisite affidavit be filed within one week from today, after providing an advance copy to learned counsel appearing on behalf of the other parties,” the court ordered.

The petition filed by a prison inmate, one Sameer, alleged that he was beaten by jail officials inside Tihar jail and sought a transfer to some other jail in the city alleging victimisation at the officials’ hands. The incident is alleged to have taken place on October 28, 2020.

During the previous hearings, the bench had expressed shock over the matter and sought the response of authorities on the action taken against the officers responsible as well as other issues raised in the plea.

The matter will next be heard on August 26.