2 years on, camp held for inmates with hepatitis C

Ludhiana: A few days after the matter of toxic gases, released by dyeing units on Tajpur Road, reached the Punjab and Haryana high court, the authorities on Saturday organised a medical camp in Ludhiana Central Jail for patients suffering from hepatitis C after a gap of two years.
While 80 inmates were examined on Saturday, 104 other patients would be checked on Wednesday.
Jail superintendent Shahsmer Singh Boparai said patients of hepatitis C had been waiting for medical examination for the past two years. They can put on proper medication only after their examination.
On March 31, justice Mahavir Singh Sandhu, who is administrative judge of Ludhiana sessions division, had visited the jail for inspection. That was when jail officials sought his help over funds to conduct the tests. Justice Sandhu arranged Rs 2 lakh for the medical camp, Boparai said.
Meanwhile, Ashish Abrol, CJM-cum-secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Ludhiana, organised a camp court in the jail premises and ordered release of four undertrials arrested in minor criminal offences. A total of 8 cases were put up in the camp court, out of which four were disposed of on the spot.
The undertrials whose release orders were issued assured the Abrol that they would not indulge in any criminal activity in the future.
Abrol said if any undertrial wants to have a lawyer under free legal aid, then they can fill the form at legal aid clinic set up in the premises of Central Jail Ludhiana.
He also directed the jail superintendent to prepare a list of undertrials with minor criminal offences so that maximum number of cases can be put up in next camp court.