NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up the Centre for the pathetic condition prevailing in jails across the country and wondered whether prisoners were considered as humans “in the eyes of the authorities”.
A bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur also took note of huge vacancies of around 48 per cent in forensic science laboratories (FSL) in India and asked the Centre how it would ensure speedy trial for the undertrials in such a situation.
“This whole thing have been converted into a joke. Do prisoners have no rights? I do not know whether they (prisoners) are considered to be humans in the eyes of the authorities,” Justice Lokur observed.
“Tell your officers to go and see (condition in jails). White washing have not been done for years. Taps are not working. Toilets are not working. There are no sewage and the situation is pathetic in jails,” the bench, also comprising Justice Deepak Gupta, told the Centre’s counsel.
The court was hearing a matter related to deficiencies in jails as highlighted by two apex court judges, one of whom has retired, during their visit to Faridabad jail and an observation home in June this year. (AGENCIES)
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