LAGATAR24 NETWORK
Ranchi, March 17: The Jharkhand High Court today directed the State home secretary to appear in person before the court on April 6 to explain why a model jail manual could not be drafted in the state despite a Supreme Court order in this regard seven years ago.
A division bench of Chief Justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra and Justice Ananda Sen gave the order expressing it displeasure over the delay
The court asked the government why it is not giving a clear-cut reply in the matter. The court observed that whenever the government is asked regarding the manual it sometimes replies that the process is going on and sometimes says that the manual has been sent to cabinet for approval.
The issue of the jail manual had cropped up in the year 2013. On the orders of the Supreme Court, all the states were instructed to reform the jails. In the light of the same order, the Jharkhand High Court took suo motu cognizance and started hearing the matter converting it into a PIL.