HYDERABAD: SHC seeks explanation from home secretary, IGP
By Our Correspondent
HYDERABAD, April 14: A division bench of the Sindh High Court, Hyderabad circuit, sought an explanation from the Sindh home secretary, the inspector-general of prisons, Sindh, the superintendent and the deputy superintendent of Hyderabad Central Jail within 15 days on the state of affairs in the jailed.
The explanation was sought by the bench here on Friday after going through a report, submitted by the District and Sessions Judge Hyderabad, Mr Zaheeruddin S.Leghari, after visiting the jail under the orders of the court. The report depicted an unfortunate and reprehensible state of affairs.
The bench comprising Justice Maqbool Baqar and Justice Yasmin Abbasi, had directed the sessions judge on April 4 to visit the jail in the wake of a two-page hand-written letter by 21 prisoners, claiming that they were not being given facilities as per directives of the Supreme Court and permissible under jail manual. The court converted the application of the prisoners into a constitutional petition.
“It is unfortunate that we, living in 21st century and claiming ourselves to be a civilised society are treating our prisoners in the manner as noted above. We strongly feel that not only superintendent central prison Hyderabad is responsible for the above but senior jail authorities including IGP and Home Secretary should also share some responsibility for this unfortunate and reprehensible state of affairs”, the court observed.
The bench added that officials must submit detailed reports as to what corrective measures they propose to take in this regard.
It asked the Additional Advocate General (AAG) Sindh to obtain copies of above reports and furnish the same to home secretary and IGP Sindh and all concerned officers working under them for compliance. The sessions judge paid a surprise visit on April 10 and went straight to condemned prisoners’ cell to meet prisoners.
According to his report, general complaints pertained to non-provision of medicines for 10 to 15 days despite prisoners’ examinations by doctors and that quality of diet is very inferior and is not eatable. “I myself found the pulse (daal) and some potatoes, supplied to prisoners, was of very inferior quality”, he noted while referring to prisoners’ claim that they were unable to complain against jail authorities for the reason that “after departure of officer, they would be maltreated, confined in security wards and dirty water and naswar would be poured in their nostrils”. There were complaints that they were not allowed proper time for meeting with parents and relatives and their interviews were held while they were hand-cuffed.
They told the visiting district judge that although DIG jail allowed them to prepare their own food but lower staff discontinued the practice.
The under trial prisoners were confined in security ward though there was no justification for confining them there when no serious complaints against them exist.
