Jail Inmates Be Permitted To Get Treatment From Private Doctors/Therapists Of Their Own Volition: Natasha Narwal, Devangana Kalita To Delhi HC

Pinja Tod members Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita submitted before the Delhi High Court that inmates should be permitted to get treatment from private doctors/therapists of their own volition.

The Bench of Justice Rekha Palli was hearing a plea wherein the Court was apprised of the issues faced by inmates of Tihar Jail, where they are currently lodged.

It was submitted before the there are a few surviving issues by pointing out that the present system does not permit any person outside India to access the website being used for Mulakaat over Video Conferencing.

It was further submitted that some of the inmates have been taking treatment from private doctors/therapists of their own volition and the respondent should, therefore, be given permissions to all inmates to avail of such an option, subject to verification by the jail authorities of the concerned doctor/therapists, and payment of fee, if any, being made by the inmate himself/ herself.

It was submitted that a computer cell in the jail had been lying unused for over a year; keeping in view the fact that most of the inmates have already been vaccinated or recovered from COVID-19, there is no reason as to why the said computer cell and the infrastructure inside should not be put to use for the benefit of the inmates.

The Delhi Government's counsel sought time to obtain instructions on these aspects and examine the report filed by DSLSA stating that the jail needs to be provided with additional computers, printers, scanners, and UPS.

Thus, at request, the matter has now been listed on July 16, 2021.

Lastly, the Superintendent, Central Jail No. 6 was directed to arrange for video conferencing facilities on the next date to enable the petitioners to join the video conference proceedings from the jail, in case they are still in custody on the next date

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