The Delhi High Court was today told that due to a large number of undertrials cramped in unhygienic conditions, they are being affected by numerous diseases in the jail premises.
"As per responses received from some of the RTIs filed by the petitioners and their associates it has been revealed that tuberculosis and other contagious diseases like HIV/AIDS, hepatitis, typhoid, etc. Are common in Tihar jail premises," the written submission filed before a bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw states.
The written suggestion and information with regard to the condition in the jail was sought by the high court from Delhi government and an NGO, Multi Action Research Group(MARG), while hearing a Public Interest Litigations relating to ensuring minimum human rights to inmates of Tihar Jail.
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The bench had sought suggestions from senior advocate Colin Gonsalves in another petition pertaining to the death of an undertrial, lodged in Tihar, due to malnutrition.
Following the court's direction, Gonsalves told the court that the "persons suffering from serious diseases are mostly from a lower socio-economic background and do not have the means to afford treatment.
"As a result, they are left at the mercy of the prison administration," he added.
