Bombay High Court Directs Cost Imposed On Two Litigants Be Utilized To Restock Taloja Prison Library

"We have imposed Rs 5k and Rs 10k as costs in two matters, and directed that proceeds be given to Taloja Prison. Now ensure it is utilised appropriately," Justice Shukre told State prosecutor Sangeeta Shinde on Thursday.

It may be recalled that while hearing Senior Journalist Gautam Navlakha's plea for house arrest the bench was informed that a bunch of books, including a book written by renowned humorist "PG Wodehouse," was not allowed inside prison citing a "security" risk.

Calling such a risk comical, Justice Shukre's bench sought to know the number books in the prison library, to which the State said there were only 2,800 books. This list did not include books authored by English author PG Wodehouse.

"Is humor banished from jail?...Also, this is quite less. Even a secondary school would have more books. If there aren't enough of books, something can be done by the bar or by the court. Because access to books is very important. It is an important step towards reformation of prison inmates," Justice Shukre had observed.

The court was also of the view that costs routinely imposed on litigants could be used for the prison library.

Therefore, the bench directed that costs imposed on two parties on Thursday should be utilised to restock the prison library.

Meanwhile, the bench continued hearing Dalit scholar and Elgar Parishad accused - Dr Anand Teltumbde's appeal seeking bail on merits.

Senior Advocate Mihir Desai for Teltumbde said that the latter was 72 years old, and the "trial is not going to see the end of the day for years together."

Desai submitted that after Teltumbde completed his engineering and MBA by 1980, he was working with reputed firms and retired as the CEO of a company in 2010. After this, he went on to teach at IIT Kharagpur and Goa Institute of Management in Goa.

"There is no allegation that he tried to flee, no antecedents, no allegation that arms or cash was recovered from him or of violence," Desai submitted.

He further argued that Teltumbde may be accused of organising the Elgar Parishad event but the truth was that he hadn't even attended or spoken at the event.

The bench will continue hearing arguments on Monday.