DUTA demands Prof. Saibaba’s immediate release

Professor G.N. Saibaba

The Delhi University Teacher’s Association (DUTA) has demanded the immediate release of arrested Delhi University Professor G.N. Saibaba, citing his deteriorating health inside the jail.

Dr. Saibaba has been lodged inside Nagpur central jail for his alleged links with the Maoists. According to DUTA members, he has been subjected to “barbaric treatment” by jail authorities and Maharashtra police.

Speaking at a press conference, DUTA president Nandita Narain said: “Dr. Saibaba’s acute physical disability and life-threatening conditions have been disregarded, and he has been denied basic facilities, including toilet facilities, a helper, prescribed nutrients and medicines necessary for his survival.”

His wife Vanitha, who was also present at the conference, said: “My husband is having a terrible time inside the jail. He is on heavy medication and he does not get good food to eat. All he gets is half-cooked chapatis and water-like

daal , which cannot provide strength to a person who is on medication. Forget a person on medication, this kind of food is not good even for a healthy person. The State is doing all this to him knowingly. It is their plan to first put him in jail and then torture him.”

She added that Dr. Saibaba had to resort to a hunger-strike in the jail in order to draw attention towards his condition. “After six days of hunger strike, during which there was no response from the jail authorities, he became unconscious and had to be admitted to the hospital,” she added.

“Dr. Saibaba is wheelchair-bound and also suffering from a deteriorating heart illness. He has been advised to undergo immediate angiography. Despite this, he has been deliberately confined in circumstances that have only speeded up further deterioration of his health condition,” a statement by DUTA said.

“This amounts to deliberate slow poisoning and judicial murder by the State. The DUTA believes that the State, under no pretext, has the prerogative to withdraw a citizen’s Fundamental Right to Life.”

DUTA has demanded his immediate release and has urged the government to grant him the right to face trial under relevant sections of the Cr.PC , including Section 437.

Dr. Saibaba’s acute physical disability and life-threatening conditions have been disregarded, and he has been denied basic facilities, including toilet facilities, prescribed nutrients and medicines, said the DUTA president