The Delhi High Court on Thursday formed a committee
to conduct surprise checks at Tihar Jail to gather information on the food
being served to inmates and the level of hygiene at the prison.
The court was hearing a plea by two inmates,
including Geeta Arora alias Sonu Punjaban, seeking its intervention to ensure
proper food is provided to them and hygiene is maintained in cooking area and
canteen.
The court constituted a three-member committee and
asked it to conduct at least three surprise checks at the high-security prison
and submit a report to it.
"It would be appropriate to direct a surprise
inspection so that information can be gathered regarding the nature of food
provided to inmates, nature of food items made available in the jail canteen
and hygiene level maintained in the cooking area and canteen," Justice
Prathiba M Singh said.
The Tihar Jail counsel submitted to the court that
the jail-visiting judge recently found that the rules were being followed.
The judge, however, said there's no harm in
conducting a surprise inspection and it may be of some good.
The counsel for the petitioners sought a direction
to the jail superintendent to ensure proper food is served to inmates and proper
canteen facilities are made available to them. He said the prescribed diet in
terms of quantity and nourishment was not being followed in the jail and it was
affecting the health of the inmates.
The court also asked the Tihar Jail counsel to file
a reply to the plea in six weeks and listed the matter for further hearing on
July 30.