Madras HC asks DGP (Prisons) to explain how inmates gain access to ganja, mobile phones

Madras High Court seeks explanation on prison inmates accessing banned items despite security measures, orders detailed report.

The Madras High Court on Friday called for an explanation from the Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services (DGPCS) as to how the inmates of various prisons across the State gain access to prohibited substances such as ganja and mobile phones despite heavy security arrangements.

A Pongal vacation bench of Justices S.M. Subramaniam and V. Lakshminarayanan directed the DGPCS and the Superintendent of the Central Prison at Puzhal near Chennai to submit their explanation on the issue, along with the details of action taken against the prison personnel, by January 21.

The directions were issued while hearing writ petitions filed by the family members of three inmates of Puzhal prison. The petitioners had accused the prison officials of having thrashed the inmates after finding them to be in possession of mobile phones and ganja during a surprise inspection on January 10.

Taking serious note of the submissions made by the petitioners’ counsel P. Pugalendhi, the judges directed the Dean of Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital to constitute a medical team to examine the three inmates, who were reportedly assaulted, and file a report before the court on January 21.

Additional Public Prosecutor E. Raj Thilak told the court that it was actually the inmates who attempted to assault the prison personnel after seizure of a mobile phone from the sensitive block and that the prison officials merely defended themselves from such an attack.

Due to contrary submissions made by the petitioners and the respondents, the judges called for a detailed counter affidavit to the three writ petitions and made it clear that the DGPCS should also explain the modus operandi being adopted to sneak in prohibited substances inside the prisons.