LAWS(ALL)-1998-3-11

OM PRAKASH SRIVASTAVA Vs. STATE OF U P

Decided On March 20, 1998
OM PRAKASH SRIVASTAVA Appellant
V/S
STATE OF UTTAR PRADESH Respondents

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THE present petitioner is lodged in Naini Central Jail in relation to Criminal Case No. 3 of 1994 pending before the designated court under the TADA Act at Kanpur Nagar with a charge for an offence under Sections 302/120-B, IPC, P. S. Cantt. , District Al lahabad. A co-accused, K. K. Saini, has been charged under Section 3 (1) of the TADA Act as also under Section 302, IPC. The petitioner was apprehended at Sin gapore and was brought to India after an extradition proceeding in 1995. For cer tain period he was detained in Tihar Jail, New Delhi, for another case and he had been transferred to Naini Central Jail, Al lahabad, in January, 1997.

(2.) IT is the grievance of the petitioner that he is being detained as an ordinary prisoner and was lodged in a cell with the co-accused, K. K. Saini, without any freedom to move to any of the wards out side the cell. It was alleged that while in Tihar Jail, the petitioner was given 'b' class status under Rule 38 of the Delhi Jail Manual. He was, however, denied the su perior class facility in Naini Central Jail. He asserted that his status was different from the other undertrial prisoners in the jail and for him the provisions of Interna tional I aw and the law on extradition would be applicable. He referred to the order of extradition as per Annexure T to the writ petition.

(3.) THROUGH a supplementary af fidavit, the petitioner added that he was not given the opportunity to meet anybody his counsel and that too after written per mission of the District Magistrate which usually took an inordinate length of time. His relatives were also not allowed to see him. Even the Counsel were allowed to see him only in presence of Deputy Jailor and Inspector of Local Intelligence, which was violative of the provisions of Section 40 of the Prisons Act, 1894. He alleged further that although other undertrial prisoners in the jail were allowed to watch Television (in short 'tv. '), but the facility was denied to him. He asserted in this supplementary affidavit that he was in cellular confine ment, which could be awarded only as a measure of punishment.