BHRC awards compensation to deceased prisoner's widow

"The deceased admittedly died while in custody and therefore, it is found to be a case of medical negligence," BHRC chairman Justice (Rtd) S N Jha said in an order while awarding Rs two lakh compensation to the widow of deceased undertrial prisoner Naresh Mahto.

"It appears to be a case of proverbial 'too late too little'.... In other words, the deceased was deprived of and denied proper treatment when, perhaps, he needed it most," he said.

The Commission directed the Secretary, Home (Special) Department to pay compensation to the deceased's wife, Devi, within a period of six weeks and submit compliance to it.

Devi had filed an application before the BHRC alleging that her husband died during incarceration in Sasaram jail due to medical negligence by the jail administration on May 23, 2000, and had prayed for compensation.

Mahto, an accused in a murder case, was arrested by the Rohtas police on September 7, 1998, and complained of mental ailments consequent to which he was admitted to the mental hospital in Ranchi before being taken to the jail at Sasaram where he died two years later.