Jharkhand HC Directs Organisation Of Mandatory Monthly Campaigns For Elderly Prison Inmates

The Jharkhand High Court has directed the State Legal Services Authority to mandatorily organise medical camps for elderly inmates who are likely to suffer from issue of Cataract, Diabetes, Blood Pressure and other old age ailments.

The Court was considering an Interlocutory Application filed for provisionally suspending the sentence by passing an ad-interim order during the pendency of the appeal.

The division-bench of Justice Sujit Narayan Prasad and Justice Navneet Kumar observed, "....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."

The Petitioner was represented by Senior Advocate A.K. Kashyap while the Respondent was represented by Special Public Prosecutor Priya Shrestha.

The application was made on the ground that the Cataract in the left eye of the Appellant has now matured and as such, it requires urgent operation otherwise it may become fatal and even there is a chance of loss of eye vision.

Counsel for the Appellant submitted that while the Appellant was in Judicial Custody, the Cataract which was developed in his right eye was operated upon by the Jail authorities by getting him examined by the doctor concerned. Referring to a previous Court Order wherein it was mentioned that the left eye was required to be operated after three months, the Counsel submitted that now it is the cataract which has been developed in the left eye which urgently requires to be operated upon.

The Court after taking note of the particulars in the case called for mandatory campaign to address these issues.

"....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 Court observed.

The Court also suggested 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.

The Court then listed the matter for further hearing on December 17.

Cause Title: Laxman Ram vs. State of Jharkhand Organisation

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