Pramesh S Jain
A surprise inspection by legal authorities at the Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) Hospital has raised questions over the alleged special treatment extended to an undertrial prisoner, including his stay in a special prison ward and an alleged meeting with his girlfriend.
The prisoner,Mohammad Hussain,was arrested in connection with alleged irregularities at the Srirangapatna Taluk Land Records Office and remanded in judicial custody on July 3.
He was subsequently shifted to MIMS Hospital on August 21 on the recommendation of the jail medical officer after he complained of back pain.
A team of the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority (KSLSA),during an inspection of the hospital and Mandya District Jail,reportedly found Hussain staying in a temporary prison ward.
Sources said the team found no serious medical condition warranting special treatment and that there was no prior court permission for his admission to the special ward.
The inspection team also reportedly found that Hussain had allegedly met his girlfriend while undergoing treatment at the hospital,raising further questions about the security arrangements and supervision of the prisoner.
Following the inspection,a case was registered under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The inspection was conducted by District Sessions Judge and DLSA President,Chandrashekar C,KSLSA Member Secretary,Shashidhar Shetty,PRO, Balasubramani,member,Dr.Mohan Rao Nalvade and DLSA Member Secretary,Anand M.
Meanwhile,Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services Alok Kumar said he had personally inspected Mandya District Prison and MIMS Hospital along with the DIG Prisons (South).
According to Kumar,Hussain had been referred to MIMS on August 21 for medical attention following a complaint of back pain and on the advice of the visiting doctor.
At MIMS,he was admitted to the temporary prison ward on the recommendation of an orthopaedic doctor.
He said Mandya District Armed Police personnel had been deployed as the escort team for the prisoner.
Kumar said the Mandya District Police was taking action against the escort personnel for lapses in their duties.
He also said the Mandya District Prison Superintendent had delayed informing the concerned court about the undertrial prisoner’s admission to the hospital.
An inquiry has been ordered into the procedural lapse by DIG Prisons (South) Divya Sree,and appropriate action will be taken based on the inquiry report.
The developments have put the spotlight on the procedures governing the hospitalisation,security and supervision of undertrial prisoners,particularly when they are admitted to special wards outside the prison.
