NHRC Issues Notice To Delhi Govt Over 'Increasing Incidents Of Violence' Among Tihar Jail Inmates

The National Human Rights Commission, NHRC, India Commission on Tuesday took suo motu cognizance of a media report alleging increasing incidents of violence among inmates in the Tihar Jail of Delhi. Referring to the case of a 25-year-old prisoner, who was beaten up by a co-prisoner on 22 September 2021, the Commission has observed that such incidents raise a serious issue of human rights violations of the prisoners in the custody of the state. Accordingly, NHRC has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and DG, Prisons, Govt. of NCT of Delhi calling for a detailed report with four weeks, including steps taken or proposed to be taken to address the issue of violence in Tihar jail.Issuing the notices, the Commission has also noted that such incidents of violence inside the jail indicate towards negligence by the prison authorities resulting in gross violation of human rights of the inmates in custody of the state.According to the media report, a notification by the NHRC adds, carried on 24 September, 2021, the latest victim of violence in the Tihar jail told during the investigation that he was first abused and beaten up by another inmate. The same day a Head Matron was injured during a scuffle with an inmate. Reportedly, about thirty inmates have been injured during September this year due to clashes in the jail, the NHRC has noted.In related news, the Delhi High Court earlier this month transferred the probe into 29-year-old Tihar Jail inmate, Ankit Gujjar's alleged murder inside the jail premises, from Delhi Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).The order was pronounced by a single bench of Justice Mukta Gupta who had reserved orders earlier this month on the plea."Investigation of FIR 451 of 2021 to be transferred to CBI. Further status report of investigation to be filed by CBI before this Court on next date of hearing," said the Court while pronouncing order."Walls of prison, howsoever high they may be, the foundation of a prison is laid on the Rule of Law ensuring the rights to its inmates enshrined in the Constitution of India," said the Court.In another development, in this case, the Delhi High Court recently sought status report from the Director General of Prisons indicating the measures taken by the authorities to ensure the safety and security of other inmates.

NHRC Issues Notice To Delhi Govt Over 'Increasing Incidents Of Violence' Among Tihar Jail Inmates

Sparsh Upadhyay

Tags