HC directs DG Prisons to inspect Tihar's facilities, hygiene

The Delhi High Court today asked the Director General of Prisons to inspect the Tihar Jail here to ascertain whether the inmates have access to medical and basic facilities like sufficient number of toilets.
A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar asked the DG Prisons to also look into whether there was sufficient cleanliness in the central prison.
The high court was prompted to issue the directions based on a news report which said that a court in the United Kingdom had refused India's request to extradite a suspected bookie as it felt that the conditions in which he would be kept in Tihar Jail would be a violation of his human rights.

The bench noted that the prison was "hopelessly overcrowded" and inmates have claimed there were not enough toilets and medical treatment was given belatedly.
The high court directed the DG Prisons to carry out the inspection and file a report before the next date of hearing on December 18.
The bench referred to the news report while hearing a PIL initiated by it after several prisoners moved the high court complaining about the inhuman conditions and lack of medical and employment facilities at the newly-commissioned Mandoli Jail in the national capital.

The prisoners had written letters to the high court about their plight inside the jail.

To decongest the Tihar Jail in west Delhi, two other jails -- one at Rohini in northwest Delhi and another at Mandoli in east Delhi, were made operational in December 2004 and October 2016 respectively.
The Mandoli complex, which has six prisons, can house 3,776 inmates. Tihar and Rohini jails have 14,469 prisoners as against the sanctioned strength of 6,250.
The letters had complained of pathetic living conditions in the jail, besides the lack of medical facilities, employment opportunities and faulty punishment procedures allegedly being implemented by the jail administration.
As per the Tihar Jail Manual, the inmates who are handed out jail terms, are imparted education, useful skills and lessons to respect the law. It aims to improve the inmates' self-esteem and strengthen their desire to improve.