What Actions Were Taken Against Prisoners From Whom Phones Were Recovered In Jail? Punjab & Haryana High Court Calls For Detailed Affidavit

The Punjab & Haryana High Court today, has asked governments of Punjab, Haryana and UT Chandigarh to file a detailed affidavit on what actions have been taken against the prisoners from whom phones are recovered in the jails.

A division bench of Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Kirti Singh was hearing suo moto cognizance against the use of mobile phones in prisons.

Perusing the affidavits submitted today by Punjab Government, in pursuance of previous directions, Justice Grewal orally expressed dissatisfaction from the details furnished.

"We will not accept this.. Enough time has been given to you. Tell us what action has been taken. Give us details: from whom have these mobile phones been recovered? Are they gangsters?," asked the judge.

Advocate Tanu Bedi, Amicus Curiae, apprised the Court that the Punjab Government has only submitted the number of mobile phones that have been recovered from the jails and not what action has been taken.

Bedi further highlighted that, as per the affidavit submitted, only nine mobile phones have been recovered from the Haryana Jails, whereas in Punjab, almost every jail has had mobiles recovered.

Justice Grewal orally remarked, "They (Haryana) is doing better and Punjab should learn from them."

While listing the matter for April 30, the Court asked both the States and UT Chandigarh to file a detailed affidavit and provide an advance copy to the amicus curiae three days prior to the date of hearing enabling her to respond to the issues raised.

Previously, the Court had observed that "It would indeed be a matter of grave concern if the inmates whether undertrials or convicts are making extortion or threatening calls from within the precincts of the jail."

"It would not be difficult for the authorities to sanitize the areas which house the high security inmates or those involved in henious crime including extortion. Such Prisoners are stated to have been put up in a separate high security zones. It is the need of the hour that the high security zones should be immediately sanitized to ensure that there are no extortion/threatening calls by the inmates" it remarked.

Title: COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION V/S STATE OF PUNJAB ETC.

Tanu Bedi, Advocate as amicus curiae and Abhimanyu Jairath, Advocate.

 Gourave Bhayyia Gilhotra, Advocate and Hitesh Verma, Advocate for the applicant in CM-85-CWPIL-2023.

Anant Kataria, DAG, Haryana, H.S. Sullar, Senior DAG, Punjab.

Satya Pal Jain, Addl. Solicitor General with Arun Gosain, Senior Government counsel for UOI in CWP-24232-2011.

Munish Bansal, Public Prosecutor, UT, Chandigarh