C.W.P.No. 6401 of 2010 1 IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH C.W.P.No. 6401 of 2010 Date of decision: 5.4.2011 Court on its own motion ........Petitioner Versus State of Haryana ........Respondent CORAM:- HON'BLE Mr. JUSTICE RANJAN GOGOI CHIEF JUSTICE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA Present: Mr. Kulvir Narwal, Additional Advocate General Haryana, for the respondent RANJAN GOGOI, CJ. : (Oral) The suo motu writ petition has been registered on the basis of the inspection note dated 24.3.2010 submitted by Justice M.M.Kumar during the course of his annual inspection of the District Jail, Faridabad. Various deficiencies noticed by the Hon'ble Judge were recorded in the report. Such deficiencies are in respect of wide range of areas i.e. shortage of staff; shortage of doctors; shortage of medicine and shortage of healthcare and surgical equipments. Deficiency in providing legal aid to inmates, deficiency in quality of drinking water, cleanliness and the poor quality of food prepared have also been mentioned in the report in question. By order dated 7.4.2010 this court had referred the issues raised in the report to the Jail Reforms Committee constituted by this Court. Pursuant thereto the Jail Reforms Committee has examined the issues involved and has submitted its report. The said report, insofar as it relates to the issues arising in this case, were required to be responded to by the State C.W.P.No. 6401 of 2010 2 of Haryana. Accordingly a written statement of the Additional Inspector General of Prisons, Haryana has been submitted today in court. We have gone through the said written statement. Broadly stated, the written statement filed by the Additional Inspector General of Prisons would indicate that the Faridabad Jail is a newly constructed jail which had started functioning from the month of February, 2010. Initially the jail suffered from various deficiencies and shortcomings which have sought to be rectified from time to time. In the aforesaid written statement it is stated that steps have been taken to increase the number of jail staff keeping in mind that the jail has been built to accommodate a little over 2500 inmates and presently there are 1421 persons housed in the said jail. In the written statement filed it has also been stated that steps have been taken to spread legal consciousness amongst the inmates and provide them legal aid and further make all reasonable amenities available inside the jail premises. Steps have also been taken to increase the number of doctors and medical staff in the jail hospital and also to ensure regular supply of medicine and healthcare equipments. The specific case of the victim Babu Ram, who is suffering from cancer, has also been dealt with in the written statement filed by stating that to facilitate his treatment in PGIMS Rohtak, the said convict has been transferred to District Jail, Rohtak on 1.7.2010. Insofar as the District Jail, Palwal is concerned, it has been stated that a proposal for acquisition of land for construction of a new jail at Palwal is under consideration and that once the matter is finalized necessary steps in this regard will be taken. In view of the response filed on behalf of the State of Haryana, C.W.P.No. 6401 of 2010 3 the details of which have been noticed above, we are of the view that this suo motu action ought not to be pursued by us any further. Instead the District Judge, Faridabad is directed to undertake routine inspections of the jail and ensure that the living conditions and other facilities are provided to the inmates of the jail by the Jail Authorities and the State Government. The learned District Judge will draw the attention of this court to any deficiency that he may find in the course of such routine inspections. With the aforesaid observations and directions this writ petition shall stand disposed of. A copy of this order be sent to the learned District & Sessions Judge, Faridabad. (RANJAN GOGOI) CHIEF JUSTICE (KANWALJIT SINGH AHLUWALIA) JUDGE April 5, 2011 RSK NOTE: Whether to be referred to the Reporter or not? _____