Karnataka High Court Adjourns Actor Darshan's Plea Seeking Home-Cooked Food, Clothing In Prison

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the state government and directed it to file its statement of objections by July 17, on the petition filed by Kannada Actor Darshan Thoogdeep Srinivas, seeking home cooked food, clothing, cutlery, bedding and books in prison.

Darshan was arrested in the Renukaswamy murder case, on June 11, 2024 and remanded to judicial custody on June 22. His petition refers to section 30 of Karnataka Prisons Act and says it allows undertrial prisoners to maintain themselves or to purchase/receive proper food, clothing, bedding subject to examination and to such rules as may be approved by IGP (Prisons).

A single judge bench of Justice S R Krishna Kumar issued notice and also directed the counsel for the petitioner to place on record a compilation of Prison rules and other relevant regulations and case laws. Further to verify if the petitioner first needs to make a request to the jail authorities and if they refuse subsequently he can approach the High Court. Also whether the accused will have to approach the trial court seeking his relief instead of the High Court.

The court said it "would preliminary hear the case on July 17 as the bench was not available to take up the matter early.”

Case Title: DARSHAN THOOGDEEP SRINIVAS AND State of Karnataka & Others.

Case No: WP 18222/2024