The Delhi High Court today has asked the jail authorities to consider installing Television in the common area of the high-security ward in the Tihar Jail.
A divisional bench comprising the Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan while hearing the matter through video conferencing stated that “they are already suffering a lot in Jail, and are not asking heaven and Stars.”
The petition has been filed by the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee seeking installation of a Television set in the High-Security Ward of the Tihar Jail for jail inmates. The plea stated that these inmates are in complete isolation and during the COVID-19 pandemic they are not in any contact with anyone else and that is leading to depression.
Counsel appearing for the DSGMC submitted that “we have very specific prayer, TV Sets can be installed subject to discipline. They can watch songs and movies. There is no need to give the remote to them, books and Magazines are available but how many times they can read it.”
The Chief Justice said that “you can give it in your common area, it can be put on a wall. Seek instructions and come back.”
The Chief Justice further added that there is not a lot of difference between inside and outside now a day, except free movement. It is a small request and is not going to affect the budget of the Prison.
The Court has directed the counsel to seek instructions and revert. The matter is listed for August 21.
-India Legal Bureau