Jharkhand High Court Directs Inspection Of Jails To Assess Quality Of Food Given To Inmates

The Jharkhand High Court has directed various District Legal Services Authorities to conduct inspections of different jails to assess the quality of food provided to inmates and to check if it is as per the jail manual. 

The court further directed that DLSA or Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority shall frequently conduct such inspections on food quality supplied in prisons.

The court was hearing a man's appellant challenging the Special Judge, NIA's order rejecting his plea for regular bail. The appellant was booked in a 2021 NIA case registered under Sections 147, 148, 149, 353, 504, 506, 307, 427, 435, 386, 387, 120B, 121A, 216 of IPC, provisions of Arms Act, among others. 

When the matter was heard on 22.10.2024, an allegation of a threat being given to the NIA Judge was brought to the high court's notice. The court had in its February 6 order had taken note of an affidavit as per which an FIR had been filed and the probe was underway. 

Thereafter the court, in its November 19 order, had taken note of a newspaper report regarding the quality of food, "which has been complained to be very poor by the inmates of different jails". The newspaper report was stated to be based on a report by the DALSA conducted in the jails situated across the State.

At that stage the court, after taking note of the gravity of the issue, had directed the Secretary Home and IG Prison to file specific affidavit by calling for reports from all the different jails regarding the quality of food and submit an affidavit to that effect.

During the hearing on November 26 the Jailor, Birsa Munda Central Jail, who is at the helm of affairs on supply of food to inmates, submitted that now the food is being supplied as per the jail manual. 

A division bench of Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Arun Kumar Rai was informed by the State's counsel that the "quality of food has been improved and now, they are being provided with the food as per the jail manual". 

With respect to providing food to inmates in the "different jails" the court said:

"we are hereby, directing the Chairman, District Legal Services Authority, Ranchi, to visit along with the Secretary, DLSA, Ranchi on any non-working day, for conducting a surprise inspection to ascertain the aforesaid fact. Such endeavor is also be taken by all the Chairman of the DLSA and the Secretary, DLSA of the different District Legal Services Authorities to conduct the inspection regarding the quality of food to assess as to whether the foods are being supplied to the inmates as provided under the Jail manual. Let such report be submitted within two weeks. This Court is making an observation that such inspection regarding the quality of food by the DLSA or JHALSA will be carried out frequently". 

Directing that the order be communicated to Member Secretary, JHALSA for its onward communication to Chairpersons of the different DLSAs to follow the court's direction the court further said, "The liberty is reserved to the officers concerned to apprise with respect to any of the untoward incidents/irregularity for passing further necessary order".

The State's counsel further submitted that a committee has been constituted, comprising majorly of inmates to run a canteen in Birsa Munda Central jail, and submitted that permission may be granted to run the canteen in order to resolve the problem faced by inmates in procuring articles used by them on day to day basis. 

Granting permission to run the canteen the bench said, "This Court, on consideration of the said submission, is granting such permission to run the canteen with a direction that the Jailor will be held responsible if any irregularity will be found on inspection which is to be conducted by the JHALSA/DLSA and as has been referred in the order dated 19.11.2025 that in case of any irregularity, the Court will pass an order to initiate Departmental Proceedings, the same will be passed in such circumstances". 

The matter is next listed on December 11. 

Case title: Akash Kumar Roy v/s  National Investigating Agency 

Cr. Appeal (DB) No. 961 of 2024

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