New Delhi: The Supreme Court has expressed serious concern over reports that Unitech Managing Director Sanjay Chandra and his brother, Ajay, who is lodged in New Delhi’s Tihar Jail for allegedly cheating home buyers, are enjoying a luxurious life in prison.
The apex court, while taking note on the reports which revealed that in various states, the condition of jails are almost similar and bigwigs using all facilities in connivance with jail authorities, slammed the jail administration and asked: “Is it parallel system running in jail?”
“Every now and then articles are coming out in this regard. In Tamil Nadu, Bihar… mobile phones are being used, inmates running the show from jail,” said the court.
The top court’s remark came in the light of a report prepared by the Additional Sessions Judge, who carried out an inspection in jail following complaints from other inmates, as per which the Unitech MD and his brother have been provided with LED TV, coconut water, mineral water, badminton rackets and other prohibited things in their prison cell.
“What have you done in Tihar jail? These persons are enjoying TV, sitting on the sofa, god knows what more they are enjoying,” said the Supreme Court and asked the Centre about the steps taken by them to deal with such issues.
“It’s like you go to jail, enjoy life and have a good life. What are we telling to the world that our justice system doesn’t work, jails don’t work?” said a bench of the top court headed by Justice Madan B Lokur.
Additional Solicitor General Aman Lekhi, appearing for the Centre, told the bench that action must be taken in this regard and such issues need to be tackled seriously.
The bench of the top court also comprising Justice Deepak Gupta asked the Centre to apprise it about the action the government is planning to take and posted the matter for hearing on Monday.
The bench also slammed the Centre for not providing basic facilities to common prisoners in jails (as against facilities provided to prisoners like Sanjay and Ajay Chandra). The court said that the condition of jails and observation homes are pathetic across the country.
“You have converted whole things into a joke. Please visit some of the jails and observation homes and find out the condition they are living, tell your officers to get out of their office and see the conditions. Taps don’t work, no sewage facilities condition is pathetic,” said the bench.
[source_without_link]ANI[/source_without_link]