The Supreme Court has termed the situation in jails in Odisha as “terrible” pointing out that inmates have to “take turns” to sleep in the State’s prisons.s
“Have you ever visited a jail in Odisha. I have learnt from one of my brothers (judges) that they (inmates) take turns to sleep there. There is an international treaty which guarantees that there should be minimum place to sleep in jails. The condition is so terrible there,” a member of a Bench of Justices SK Kaul and KM Joseph said on Monday.
The court observed this while it was hearing a petition filed by a man seeking bail in a case lodged under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989. The petitioner’s counsel told the court that allegation against the man is that he had slapped his mother. He said the petitioner is 20 years old and has been in jail for over 400 days, due to which his studies have been affected.
The counsel appearing for the State said the lawyers’ strike in district courts is over and the petitioner can move there for bail after statement of the complainant is recorded.
He said the Orissa High Court, while refusing to grant bail to the petitioner, had noted that there was a threat perception to the complainant.
The petitioner’s counsel countered this and said there is no threat perception to the complainant.
The apex court then posted the matter for next hearing after one month while taking note of the submissions advanced by the State’s counsel that the statement of the complainant would be recorded by the concerned trial court within a month.