Do some people have special rights in jails, asks SC

NEW DELHI: Upset by reports pointing to Unitech MD Sanjay Chandra and his brother Ajay getting 5-star facilities inside Tihar Jail in violation of law, the Supreme Court on Thursday asked whether a parallel system is running inside jails where the rich got everything while poor inmates lived in pathetic conditions.

“Is there a parallel system running in jails? Do they have special rights in jails?” a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said while referring to media reports which said that LED TV, sofa and other prohibited items were found in a Tihar jail cell where Chandra brothers are lodged.

Additional Solicitor General Aman Lekhi, appearing for the central government, said action must be taken against the jail officials concerned for providing such facilities to them. The court, however, slammed the Centre and state government for not doing enough to provide basic facilities to jail inmates who are forced to live in pathetic conditions. The court said government officials should be asked to visit prisons to get first-hand experience about the living conditions, which would sensitise them to the problem.

“You people do not realise their problems because you do not go to jail. Go there and see their pathetic living conditions. Tell your people to visit jails and see their problems,” the bench informed ASG Lekhi.

The court has set up a committee headed by its retired judge Amitava Roy to look into problems in 1382 jails of the country and suggest measures on prison reforms to protect the rights of inmates, particularly minor children of women prisoners who are compelled to live in jail.