'Lawrence Bishnoi's Jail Interview Not From Punjab Or Haryana, Have Requested Its Removal From Public Domain': ADGP Informs High Court

The ADGP (Prison) of Punjab today submitted before the Punjab and Haryana High Court a report of the Committee constituted to enquire into Lawrence Bishnoi's interview, in a sealed cover.

A division bench of Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal and Justice Kirti Singh noted that it has been submitted that as per the findings of the Committee, “it is highly improbable that interview of the suspect had been conducted in any of the jails in the State of Punjab or within the State of Punjab when he was in police custody.”

It was further submitted that he was not even in Haryana during the interview, he was taken to different places as he was required in other cases outside the two states.

The ADGP (Prison) Arun Pal who was present in the Court in pursuance of a previous order, also said that a written request has been to concerned authorities to remove the interview from the public domain.

Furthermore, it was submitted that several measures, including the installation of jammers, CCTV cameras, body scanners, putting up nets on the boundary walls to prevent the throwing of mobile phones, and the augmentation of the jail staff (as it is currently working at 60% of its strength), are being taken to strengthen prison security

Augmentation of the landlines to enable the jail inmates to make phone calls to their family members are also being tried, noted the bench.

Adding that the measures as contemplated by the Prison Authorities appear to be in the pipeline for several years, the Court said further delay cannot be made, “especially when several instances of usage of mobile phones by inmates for commission of crime have come to our notice.”

The Court directed the Director, Punjab Engineering College, Chandigarh to depute an expert in the field of Electronics/communications to assist the Court on the technical aspects of usage of jammers and other equipment to prevent the unauthorized use of mobile phones and other electronic devices within the jail premises.

Meanwhile, the ADGP, Jails sought time to apprise the Court about the timeline for implementation of measures to augment security in the jails and prevent the unauthorized usage of mobile phones and other electronic devices in the jail premises.

While listing the matter for December 20, it directed the ADGP, Jails to remain present in the Court.

Background

The Court was hearing suo moto cognizance against use of mobile phones in the prisons, it had observed that, "It is a matter of grave concern that a suspect in police or judicial custody has been allowed to conduct an interview at length. The officers who permitted or facilitated the interview, need to be identified and taken to task at the earliest".

During the previous hearing, the Bench had expressed a dissatisfaction that 7 months had elapsed "but not much headway has been made" by the Committee to probe Bishnoi's media interview conducted by mobile phone. Accordingly, it was directed that the ADGP file an affidavit explaining "why it has taken so long for the Committee to submit its report."

Appearance: . Tanu Bedi, Advocate Amicus Curiae assisted by Sumit Kumar, Advocate

Ishma Randhawa, Addl. A.G., Punjab.

Harmandeep Singh Sullar, Sr. DAG, Punjab.

Anant Kataria, DAG, Haryana.

Manish Bansal, Public Prosecutor with Rajiv Vij, Addl. P.P., UT Chandigarh.

Arun Gosain, Senior Government Counsel for Union of India in CWP-24232-2011.

 Case Title: COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION VIS STATE OF PUNJAB AND OTHERS