Rights violation of death-row convicts: SC seeks 10 DGPs' response
The SC has sought a response from Director General of Police (Prisons) of 10 states on the issue of the alleged violation of human rights of prisoners awarded death sentence. The DGPs (Prisons) have also been asked to reply on the issue of solitary confinement, legal representation, visitation rights of prisoners' families, and psychiatric consultation of death row convicts. Here are more details.
Bench was hearing cases related to 1,382 prisons
A bench of Justices MB Lokur and Deepak Gupta was hearing a matter relating to inhuman conditions prevailing in 1,382 prisons across the country. The petition was filed by Amicus Curiae advocate Gaurav Agarwal. The 10 states include Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Punjab, Delhi, Goa, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, and Bihar. Bench sought the replies of DGP (Prisons) by May 8.
Assistant professor moved SC with an interlocutory application
Agarwal had written a letter to officials of 10 states after Dr. Anup Surendranath, an assistant professor at Delhi's National Law University moved the SC with an interlocutory application seeking intervention on the alleged violation of prisoners' rights. He had raised various concerns about violation of certain provisions of state prison manuals and human rights of prisoners, especially those have been awarded death penalty.
Bench termed the prison's condition 'extremely unfortunate'
As a follow up to Dr. Surendranath's application, Agarwal wrote to DGP (Prisons) of the 10 states on March 13, seeking their responses on issues concerned. The apex court had voiced concern on the issue of overcrowding of prisons across the country, saying prisoners have human rights and they can't be kept like animals. The bench had termed the situation as "extremely unfortunate".
SC asked NALSA to look into issue of prison's overcrowding
The apex court had on February 21 asked the NALSA to look into the issue of overcrowding of prisons and furnish figures before it regarding the population in jails where occupancy was over 150% as on December 31 last year.
