LAHORE, Nov 28: Chief Justice-designate Tassaduq Hussain Jillani on Thursday took suo motu notice of a media report that poisonous meals had been served to prisoners at the Kot Lakhpat Central Jail and held proceedings the same day.

According to the report, several women prisoners were admitted to the jail hospital on Wednesday with stomach pain after they ate the food.

IG Prisons Mian Farooq Nazir and DIG Malik Mubashar appeared before a three-judge bench headed by Justice Jillani at the Lahore registry of the Supreme Court.

The DIG told the court that a departmental inquiry had already been initiated into the matter and the report would be furnished within 24 hours. He said the incident apparently happened when food was being distributed among the women prisoners. He said a lizard had fallen into one of the three cauldrons of chicken meal. All the cauldrons were disposed of and fresh food provided to the inmates, he added.

The bench adjourned the hearing and directed the DIG to submit the inquiry report to the court.