Jharkhand High Court Directs Mandatory Monthly Medical Camps For Elderly Prisoners With Cataract, Diabetes And Hypertension

The Jharkhand High Court has recently directed the Jharkhand State Legal Services Authority (JHALSA)) to organize medical camps for inmates, particularly elderly prisoners suffering from ailments such as cataracts, diabetes, and blood pressure, alongside the monthly legal camps conducted in jails.The division bench comprising Justices Sujit Narayan Prasad and Navneet Kumar directed, “This Court, after having passed the order as above has also considered that the issue of like nature that is the under-trial prisoners or the inmates, who are in judicial custody, in consequence of the conviction, are required to be medically examined, particularly, the old age inmates where the likelihood of the issue of Cataract, Diabetes, Blood Pressure and other old age ailments are likely to grief such inmates.”“Hence, this Court is of the view that let the Chairman, DLSA; ViceChairman, DLSA and Secretary, DLSA to launch a campaign by conducting the medical camp the day when the legal camps are being organized said to be on monthly basis be also organized for the purpose of medical examination of such inmates and as per the requirement, they be provided all necessary medical aid,” the bench added.The above ruling came in an interlocutory application filed for provisionally suspending the sentence by passing an ad interim order during pendency of the appeal. The appellant, Laxman Ram, who was suffering from a matured cataract in the left eye, filed the application seeking urgent medical intervention, considering a risk of potential loss of vision.Senior Advocate, A.K. Kashyap, appearing emphasized for the appellant the urgency of the situation, requesting that the left eye cataract be treated following the same procedure.The High Court after having the counsel for the parties, directed Jail Superintendent, Garhwa, “to get the appellant examined in either of the Hospital, i.e., Sadar Hospital Garhwa or Sadar Hospital Palamau in the eye ward and as per the advice of the doctor, the left eye of the appellant be operated upon.”The Court also directed the State Counsel to submit a compliance report about the medical treatment provided.Further, the Court directed, “It needs to refer herein that the Jail Adalat being organized inside the jail, is reported to be on the last Saturday of each month, as such if it is being organized, then it be organized regularly along with the medical camps. 13.The learned Member Secretary, JHALSA is directed to monitor and call upon the report of this task.”The matter will now be listed on 17th December, 2024, for further hearing.In pursuance of the High Court's order dated December 9, 2024, JHALSA issued the following instructions on December 10, 2024:“* DLSAs to launch a campaign by conducting the medical camp the day when the legal camps are being organized on monthly basis for the purpose of medical examination of all inmates particularly, the old age inmates where the likelihood of the issue of Cataract, Diabetes, Blood Pressure and other old age ailments and as per the requirement, they be provided all necessary medical aid.* The Jail Adalat being organized inside the jail, shall be accompanied with medical camps.It is further requested that the order of Hon'ble High Court of Jharkhand may be complied in letter and spirit.”Case Title: Laxman Ram vs The State of JharkhandClick Here To Read OrderClick Here To Read JHALSA's Letter

Jharkhand High Court Directs Mandatory Monthly Medical Camps For Elderly Prisoners With Cataract, Diabetes And Hypertension

Bhavya Singh

Tags