Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, May 25: The High Court today took serious not of leniency shown by the District Judges for not submitting their visiting reports of jails to their jurisdiction and directed Registrar General to seek report as to whether periodical visit to the jails have been conducted or not.
The division bench of Acting Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice M K Hanjura, while hearing Suo-moto proceedings, directed the Registrar General to seek report from all the District Judges as to whether they have conducted periodical visit to the jails of their jurisdiction.
Earlier court had sought report about District Judges for not submitting the visiting reports to various jails across the State. Today court has been apprised that the visiting report on behalf of District Judge Pulwama, Ramban, Rajouri, Kathua, Reasi has been submitted. Court directed the rest of the District Judges to submit their report within a period of 3 days before the court.
Court also directed the Registrar Judicial to ensure that the counsel appearing for High Court to submit explanation from rest of the district judges as to why they have not submitted visiting reports till date.
Direction is already on the authorities to ensure that the inmates of the jail who are facing trial in different courts are produced before the court whenever production is directed by the trial court.
Court has also taken note of its earlier order passed on May 3 this year in which Principal District Judges of all the districts of the State were called upon to strictly comply with the directions of this Court passed from time to time with respect to visiting the jails in order to see whether the jail condition and basic facilities are available in the jails or not.
Court in its previous direction had asked the petitioner-Association to prepare a check list as to what are the requirements that are to be provided to the detenues keeping in mind the decisions of the Supreme Court so that a workable solution is found and effectively managed.
The earlier report of Home Department filed by Additional Secretary to Government Home Department, Srinagar revealed that a meeting was called for removing various deficiencies like drinking water at Central Jail, Srinagar and non-availability of Ambulances in Jails, providing of a contingent of escort for full time to meet the emergency situation like ailment in the Central Jail, providing of services of B-Grade specialist or Assistant Surgeon to the inmates and arrangement for segregation of inmates in respective class as per the Jail Manual.
“The Home department, the report showed, has also impressed upon all Jail Authorities to implement the directions issued by the High Court in letter and spirit and provide food to the inmates on time in the evening”, the court observed.
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