Allahabad HC Asks Govt To File Reply In Plea Seeking Arrangement For Conjugal Visits To Prison Inmates With Social Distancing Norms [Read Order]

A bench comprising of Justices Anil Kumar and Manish Mathur has issued notice to the Government asking them to file a counter affidavit within a period of ten days.

The PIL has been filed by one Shivam Pandey through Advocate Pranjal Krishna, also praying for a direction to the Government to devise a proper mechanism to ensure social distancing and sanitization norms, along-with other such safety measures, so as to prevent the spread of Corona virus in the prisons.

They had contended that such measures are essential to uphold the Fundamental Rights of the inmates, as guaranteed under the Indian Constitution.

During the course of hearing through video conferencing, the Government Advocates Anand Shikha and SK Singh had raised issues as to the maintainability of the PIL.

Keeping this in mind, the court has given them the liberty to raise such objections in the counter affidavit, as directed to be filed within 10 days. The court has further ordered that after receiving a copy of the counter affidavit, the petitioner shall file a rejoinder affidavit within a period of three days.

The matter is now listed for hearing on June 15.

Case Details:

Case Title: Shivam Pandey v. State of UP & Ors.

Case No.: PIL (Crl) No. 8206/2020

Quorum: Justice Anil Kumar and Justice Manish Mathur

Appearance: Advocate Pranjal Krishna (for Petitioner); Government Advocates Anand Shikha and SK Singh (for State)

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