Recommendations on prison security is still pending: state

The state government has informed the Bombay high court that the recommendations submitted by a committee to the cabinet regarding security concerns due to high rises near prisons is pending consideration.

The state government has informed the Bombay high court that the recommendations submitted by a committee to the cabinet regarding security concerns due to high rises near prisons is pending consideration.

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The court was hearing a petition filed by inmate Major Ramesh Upadhyay, an accused in the September 2008 Malegaon bomb blasts case. Upadhyay had written to the court raising concerns about the existing and under-construction high-rises that pose a security threat to the jail inmates.

An affidavit filed a few months back by the principal secretary, Medha Gadgil, appeals and security, had stated that rules are in place under the development control regulations spelling out conditions for construction of high-rises around prisons in the state.

The court had taken suo-motu notice of the letter following which it appointed Shubhada Khot as amicus curiae (friend of court) to appear for Upadhyay.

Upadhyay, in a hand-written letter, had cited newspaper clippings of photos taken from a nearby building about the activities inside the jail.

Additional public prosecutor Ajay Gadkari said a committee comprising inspector general of prisons had submitted recommendations in this regard for all the prisons in the state.