The Supreme Court comes down heavily on VIP culture in jails
Justice in the hands of the powerful is merely a governing system like any other. Why call it justice? Let us rather call it injustice,” wrote French novelist Georges Bernanos. And encouragingly enough the Supreme Court has taken cognisance of the VIP culture prevalent within our jails, which are ubiquitiously meant to clamp down and deter wilful offenders for causing harm to society by denying them their basic human right, that of freedom, and subjecting them to regimented incarceration. But when it comes to the rich and powerful in India, even punishment is hierarchical with no co-relation to the severity of the public offence committed as they negotiate “outside” comforts within the prison rather than surrender to a life of denial. The Court came down heavily over revelations that the Chandra brothers of Unitech, who are doing their time in Tihar jail for cheating home buyers, are leading a “luxurious lifestyle” with LED TVs and sofa sets inside the country’s biggest and most protected confines. Its observation, “God knows what all they are enjoying,” reflects not only its angst but rather the helplessness of a justice system to bring errants, who have reduced their customers to a life of penury and distress by cheating them of their investments, to book. It further exposes the chinks in India’s prison system where both fraudsters and gangsters have negotiated personal comforts through bribery and a misplaced sense of entitlement. Prison guards, who are on the lower side of a salary structure, have easily traded their role ethics for that extra dough. In fact, Tihar is one of the most open jails in the country which allows “good conduct” prisoners to avail of rehabilitative and educative pursuits and has some considerate wardens. Yet these were clearly not enough for the Chandra brothers, who without the slightest deed of repentance, are finding ways of self-gratification.
Though they are in the centre of the current storm, fact is such irreverence has been legitimised by too many precedents of politicians, celebrities and corporates. Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad enjoyed various perks that went against the jail manual. Visuals of AIADMK leader VK Sasikala enjoying delicacies from a makeshift kitchen, holding party meetings in her cell in civilian clothes have been doing the rounds. Jail officials bowed down to SAD leader Jagir Kaur. Actors Sanjay Dutt and Salman Khan have negotiated paroles on some pretext or the other that didn’t apply to other convicts charged for the same violations. While mobile phones are routinely accessed by even the petty ganglord these days, in recent years more vices like the illegal supply of drugs have been reported. In sharp contrast, regular convicts are getting the harshest end of the stick in over-crowded barracks with little by way of conveniences and hygiene. Our jails are known for housing inmates in excess of their capacity. So much so that the apex court wondered whether regular prisoners were considered humans at all. While jail officials must be pulled up for a litany of failures, there is a crying need for prison reforms, transparency and most importantly, invigilation.