SUO MOTU Vs. STATE OF RAJASTHAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Present Suo Motu PIL was registered on the basis of news reported in various news channels of Rajasthan on 16.05.2020 in the evening that a huge number of approximately 55 prisoners, both convicts as well as under-trials at Jaipur District Jail were detected corona positive and the largest number out of them 48 infected persons were lodged in Central/District Jail, Jaipur.

(2.) On the registration of this PIL on 16.05.2020, the learned Advocate General as well as Additional Chief Secretary (Home) and Director General (Prisons) were informed that this matter would be taken up at 11.30 AM on 17.05.2020.

(3.) Accordingly, we have heard Mr. M.S. Singhvi, learned Advocate General assisted by Mr. Siddhant Jain for the State through Video Conferencing and Mr. Rajeeva Swarup, Additional Chief Secretary(Home), Government of Rajasthan and Mr. N.R.K. Reddy, Director General (Prisons), Rajasthan in person. We have also perused certain newspaper article published in the Times of India dated 17.05.2020 indicating that the numbers of positive corona cases which were reported on 16.05.2020 in Jaipur District Jail itself had gone upto 128 inmates within past 48 hours.