SC rejects UP's plea against HC order on shifting Lucknow jail

The Supreme Court today dismissed a plea of Uttar Pradesh government against the High Court order staying the shifting of existing jails in Lucknow to a newly constructed prison in the outskirts of the state capital.
A bench comprising justices Madan B Lokur and S A Bobde rejected the plea, filed in 2009 by the state during the BSP rule, against the order of the high court.
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court had stayed the shifting of the jail to Mohanlal Ganj.
The apex court, on July 8, 2009, had issued notice on the plea of the state governmemt against the high court order.

Staying the High Court order, it had then said, "the counsel for the state submits that the State has constructed a new jail at Mohanlal Ganj in the outskirts of Lucknow city with a capacity for about 4,660 inmates and wants to shift the inmates to the new jail.
"By the impugned order, the High Court has stayed the shifting of the jail. The State is permitted to shift the jail from the present premises to the newly constructed building at Mohanlal Ganj."
The High Court, however, had stated that the government may take steps for modernisation of the jails but should not demolish the existing structures.

The HC order was passed on a PIL filed by advocate Sangam Lal Pandey alleging that state government was planning to shift inmates to a new jail and demolish the old jail buildings.