HC raps state on HIV+ jail inmates’ treatment

Why should these officials not be jailed? That’s what the Bombay High Court has asked about state officials who have failed to follow the government’s own schedule to provide proper treatment to jail inmates suffering from HIV.

Why should these officials not be jailed?

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That’s what the Bombay High Court has asked about state officials who have failed to follow the government’s own schedule to provide proper treatment to jail inmates suffering from HIV.

A division bench of Justice P B Majumdar and Justice R G Ketkar on Tuesday asked the government to explain why it has not yet implemented its own schedule on this, and how soon it would appoint medical officers at the prisons in question.

By the state’s schedule, medical officers were to be appointed by February 22, and laboratories set up by January 20.

“We asked you to submit a compliance report. This is contempt. Why should they (officers) not be jailed? Either you comply or seek an extension — there is no third alternative,” said Justice Majumdar.

An affidavit filed by Medha Gadgil, principal secretary (Appeal and Security), Home Department, said the state has asked the Mumbai District Aids Control Society and the Maharashtra State Aids Control Society to offer treatment to HIV patients in jails.

Public Prosecutor Pandurang Pol told the court the state has appointed 37 medical officers in jails. To which Justice Majumdar asked: “What is the fault of those prisoners (in jails) where medical officers are not sanctioned? We won’t allow them to die.”

The state was also pulled up for its use of funds. “Where is the money now? Nothing much is done. It should benefit the prisoners,” Justice Majumdar said.

Advocate Rajesh Bindra, in filing for bail for a convict suffering from HIV, said jail authorities do not even provide an escort to take HIV patients to the nearest government hospital for treatment. Bindra’s client died last year due to inadequate treatment.

Advocate Yug Chaudhary, appointed as amicus curie (friend of the court), said patients who were not even at a critical stage have died due to lack of basic treatment.

The high court gave the state one week to submit a break-up of all material bought for the setting up of laboratories, and to explain why the planned Integrated Counselling and Treatment Centre had still not been set up.