Delhi Court Directs Jail Superintendent To Submit Report On The Treatment Given To COVID Positive Prisoner in Rohini Jail

On Saturday, a Delhi Court directed the Jail Superintendent of Rohini Prison to submit a detailed report on the treatment provided to a COVID19 positive prisoner.

The direction has been given by Additional Sessions Judge Neelofer Abida Parveen in a bail application moved by a COVID positive prisoner.

The court has asked the concerned Superintendent to submit a report highlighting the health condition of the prisoner and the treatment provided to him.

In addition to this, the report also has to highlight as to whether the concerned prisoner is being kept in the isolation ward or has been shifted to a hospital which is notified as COVID19 facility.

In his bail plea, the accused has submitted that he has been in judicial custody since 27/04/19, and during the period of his said custody, he tested positive for COVID19 and is currently undergoing treatment in the jail itself.

In its reply, the Additional Public Prosecutor submitted that since the accused has tested positive for COVID19, he needs to be quarantined and can't be released on interim bail.

The Prosecutor further argued that the accused lives in Nabi Karim, Paharganj, which is a designated hotspot/containment zone for the coronavirus.

Moreover, since the accused lives in a single room with his parents and two sisters, the maintaining or social distancing would not be possible.

During the proceedings, the court took into consideration the submissions made by the Director General (Prisons) before the High Powered Committee of the High Court.

The concerned DG had informed the Committee that one inmate was found positive and shifted to a dedicated hospital. Out of the 19 prisoners who shared the barrack with him, 15 were tested positive along with one jail staff.

Consequently, the DG had submitted that isolation wards were created in each jail and infected prisoners were separately quarantined. Moreover, the treatment is being provided and contact tracing is underway.

The matter will next be taken up on June 03.