Examine Recommendations To Make Tihar Jail Disabled Friendly: Delhi HC To State [Read Order]

The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed the authorities to examine deficiencies and make Tihar Jail more accessible for persons with disabilities visiting the jails or being lodged there as inmates.

During the hearing, the Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C. Hari Shankar was informed that a disability audit for Tihar Jail was undertaken by Mr. Nipun Malhotra, who is the co-founder of the Nipman Foundation that works in the area of health and advocacy for Persons with Disabilities.

Directing examination of the viability of the suggestions and their implementation, the Court ordered, "... certain important deficiencies have been pointed out by Mr. Nipun Malhotra which deserve to be examined from the perspective of persons with disabilities visiting the jails or being lodged therein as inmates. The Director-General, Prison shall ensure that the deficiencies pointed out by Mr. Nipun Malhotra are examined and appropriate steps are taken at the earliest and a compliance report be filed before this court."

The Court was then informed by Mr. S.S. Parihar, Deputy Inspector General (Prisons) that the jail manual will be forwarded from the Director General, Prison to the Department of Home, Govt. of NCT of Delhi within a week. The Department of Home, as well as Law and Justice, was directed to process the same expeditiously and place it before the competent authority for notifying it at the earliest.

Mr. Malhotra has now been directed to visit the Mandoli Jail and the Rohini Jail as well, to conduct a disability audit. The Petition has been listed on 28 May, with a direction to place a report on the developments before the Court.