Delhi HC forms committee to evaluate condition of basic amenities in Tihar Jail Complex
Aug 29, 2023
New Delhi [India], August 29 : The Delhi High Court has formed a fact-finding committee to evaluate the present conditions on the status of basic amenities like drinking water, sanitation, overall hygiene and the maintenance of washrooms/toilets within the Tihar Jail complex.
The bench of Justice Satish Chander Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula in an order passed last week said “We deem it necessary to authorize an independent committee for a meticulous inspection of Tihar Jail.”
“To this end, we establish a Fact-Finding Committee consisting of Dr Amit George, Santosh Kumar Tripathi, Nandita Rao and Tushar Sannu. Their mandate is to impartially evaluate the present conditions and update us on the status of drinking water, sanitation, overall hygiene, and the maintenance of washrooms/toilets within the complex,” Bench said.
The court also directed the Director General (Prison) of Tihar Jail to facilitate the Committee's work, providing all requisite resources and support to enable a thorough examination of the jail premises.
The court has passed the directions while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by the Delhi High Court Legal Services Committee (DHCLSC) on the issue of supply of clean drinking water and maintaining hygienic-sanitary conditions within the Tihar Jail Complex.
The Court noted that Dr. Amit George, the counsel for DHCLSC submitted that they have been inundated with complaints from Tihar Jail inmates, who claim an alarming scarcity of basic necessities like clean drinking water and proper sanitation facilities. Supporting this claim, he insists that there has been no discernible improvement in the living conditions within Tihar Jail.
The report and accompanying photographs clearly reveal that inmates are bereft of essential amenities, including safe drinking water and functional toilets.
Rule No. 425 of the Delhi Prison Rules, 2018, mandates that every inmate should have uninterrupted access to fresh drinking water at all times. These rules emphasize the importance of not only providing inmates with clean water but also ensuring a well-maintained sanitation system and washroom facilities, noted the court.
