Delhi HC Allows Pinjra Tod Member Devangana Kalita's Plea For Headphone During VC Meetings With Counsel, Books Etc

The Single Bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru allowed the demands raised by Kalita after taking into consideration the status report filed by the Tihar authorities wherein it was mentioned that they have no objections to the aforesaid demands.

Kalita had moved a criminal writ petition seeking the following facilities:

1. headphone to maintain privacy of the conversation between her and her counsel
2. the facility to share documents online as the same is necessary for an effective consultation with her counsel for preparing her defense
3. that the provision of books and reading material not be limited to academic books but be extended to other books as well; and
4. that the video conferencing facility be provided to confer with her counsel twice a week for at least 30 minutes on each occasion

She had argued that currently the prison officials were made privy to her meetings with the counsel which is a violation of Rule 627 of the Delhi Prison Rules, 2018.

It was further submitted by the Petitioner that the coordinate bench of this court had granted similar reliefs to fellow Pinjra Tod member Natasha Narwal after no objections were raised by Tihar authorities.

Therefore, the court disposed of this plea by noting that Devangana Kalita will be entitled to the same reliefs that were granted to Natasha Narwal by the Single Bench of Justice Hari Shankar in an order dated 30/06/20.

Now both Kalita and Narwal will be provided with the following:

1. Headphones during the video conferencing in order to ensure compliance with Rule 627 of the Delhi Prison Rules
2. Screen sharing facility will also be provided through Webex app
3. All the books desired by the Petitioner will be provided to her subject to the Delhi Prison Rules
4. Petitioner will be provided with telephonic calls facility
5. As far as practicable, 30 minutes of video conferencing will be provided to the Petitioner

Pinjra Tod members Devangana Kalita and Natasha Narwal are accused under various sections of the IPC as well as under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act for allegedly instigating Delhi riots