The ongoing fever of the cricket world cup has not spared anyone, not even the inmates of the Guwahati Central Jail in Assam. Hearing on a Public Interest litigation (PIl) filed by six inmates of the Guwahati Central jail, Justice Arup Kumar Goswami of the Guwahati High Court has asked the Central jail authority here to install cable connection to the television sets inside the jail so that the inmates can enjoy news, sports and other entertainment channels.
The PIl, filed by the six inmates of the jail, had sought the court’s intervention in ensuring that the inmates can enjoy news, sports and entertainment channels and particularly enjoy the ongoing matches of the cricket world cup.
The six inmates including the former chief executive member (CEM) of the North Cachar Hills Autonomous Council (NCHAC), Mohet Hojai had also mentioned in the PIl that at present they can watch only one channel, which is Doordarshan.
“Hojai and five other jail inmates filed a writ petition (WP(C) No. 1070 of 2015) sought cable TV connections in the television sets at the common area of jail premises for watching sports , news and other amusement channels specially in this ongoing world cup cricket matches.
After hearing the PIl, Justice AK Goswami, directed the State Government to provide cable TV connections in the television sets in the common area of Guwahati Central Jail within five days from the date of order,” said Advocate Amit Goyal, who filed the PIl on behalf of the inmates.
Senior counsel Ashok Saraf, who appeared for the prisoners argued that Article 21of the Indian Constitution requires that no person shall be deprived of his life and personal liberty except by procedure established by law and its procedure must be reasonable, fair and just and not arbitrary, whimsical or fanciful.
“A prisoner is also not stripped of his fundamental or other legal rights, save those which are inconsistent with his incarceration. Watching various sports specially World Cup Cricket and news of the nation and other entertainment shows cannot be said to be out of the purview of Article 21 of the Constitution of India,” he argued.