Prisoners using cell phones, HC shocked

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday expressed shock at the rampant use of cell phones by prisoners from inside Tihar jail despite a strict ban on carrying them, installation of jammers and CCTVs.

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday expressed shock at the rampant use of cell phones by prisoners from inside Tihar jail despite a strict ban on carrying them, installation of jammers and CCTVs.

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A Bench of newly sworn in Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice M.B. Lokur has directed the jail authorities to confiscate all phones within three days.

The revelation came in the form of a report submitted by Delhi’s Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Kaveri Baweja who had conducted an enquiry following complaints.

Last year, at least nine mobile phones and 11 SIM cards were found inside Tihar Jail. The Bench said: “It is common knowledge that there have been cases where convicts or undertrial operate from inside to galvanize and accentuate the crimes” by contacting their members through cell phones.

Noting that “communication was an essential part of life and the prisoners had every right to it”, the judges said that the requirement had been satisfied with insallation of a number of landlines for them.

In a status report, Pawan Sharma, Delhi Police standing counsel informed the court that some inmates were using body cavities to smuggle in cellphones. He also said surprise checks are also being made inside jails to seize phones.

Not satisfied with these measures, the Bench said “these are just curative steps why don’t you take preventive measures?”