High Court seeks report on inmates’ death at Tihar Jail

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought a reply from the Delhi Government on 15 deaths that reportedly took place at Tihar Central Jail here between January and April this year.

Status report sought

A Division Bench headed by Justice G. Rohini sought a status report from the government on a letter written by Justice S. Muralidhar. Justice Muralidhar wrote the letter on the basis of media reports on these deaths.

Counsel for the government informed that a magisterial inquiry was on into these deaths and action would be taken on its completion.

According to media reports, the jail last year saw a hundred per cent rise in the death of inmates in 2012.

Lack of medical facilities

Thirty-five people died inside the jail in 2013 compared to 18 in 2012. The jail insiders attributed it primarily to lack of medical facilities and improper surveillance inside.

Of the 35 deaths, two committed suicide — including Ram Singh, one of the accused in the December 16 gang-rape case — and two were murdered. The remaining 31 died of different medical conditions.

‘Natural death’

The jail authorities claim that most deaths inside the prisons were natural and denied delay in medical evacuations.

In 2012, 16 inmates died inside the jail due to undisclosed reasons and two prisoners committed suicide, one of the reports said.

14,000 prisoners

According to Tihar Jail authorities, around 14,000 prisoners are lodged in nine jails at Tihar, of whom 600 are women.

Medical facilities inside the jail were revamped in 1996 in the wake of the death of biscuit king Rajan Pillai inside the jail in mysterious circumstances.