HC disposes of plea against suspension of legal interviews with prisoners

Delhi HC dismissed a petition against the suspension of legal interviews in prisons after the jail authorities inform petitioner Sarthak Maggo that a fresh circular has been issued permitting legal interviews with jail inmates via video conference, though, accepting the suggestion of the petitioner to make the said system "user friendly".

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday disposed of a petition against the suspension of legal interviews in prisons after the jail authorities informed that a fresh circular has been issued permitting legal interviews with jail inmates via video conference.

"The respondents have issued a circular extending the facility of legal interviews through video conferencing to all inmates across jails. Looking at the said development, we are not inclined to pass any further directions," said a division bench of the High Court presided over by Chief Justice D.N. Patel and Justice Prateek Jalan.

The court, however, asked the authorities to consider the additional suggestions submitted by petitioner Sarthak Maggo to make the said system "user friendly".

The directions were passed while the court was hearing a petition filed by Maggo seeking directions to the jail authorities to set up a web link for legal mulakats and for conducting regular legal mulakats telephonically or through video conference to ensure access to justice to the inmates of the Tihar Prison Complex.

In its circular, the jail authorities stated that the applications received through email from the private counsels shall be considered by the Superintendent of Jails. To this, the petitioner suggested that the contact information of the Superintendents of all Jails shall be mentioned along with the above.

"This would ensure that Counsels are not tendering their applications for Virtual Mulakats with prisoners to inappropriate authority and that the Mulakats are not delayed due to administrative reasons. Moreover, it is suggested that for coordination purposes and to avoid delays in applications by Counsels, the email IDs and telephone lines are manned, and prompt responses are received," the petitioner said.

The petitioner also suggested that a transparent mechanism may be set up wherein the Counsels and other applicants are given full disclosure of the reasons for rejection of their application. The jail authorities in the circular had stated that the Superintendent would decide on the request on the merit or verification of vakalatnama and identity of the applicant.

The petitioner stated that there would be some counsels who would need urgent consultation and such requests may be accepted and the slot may be given within 48 hours or a shorter period as the court may deem fit.

The plea filed by Maggo had alleged that the discontinuation of these legal interviews has led to delays in both access and administration of justice because both the advocates and inmates are struggling to establish a connection to seek appropriate remedies.

"The physical legal mulakats were suspended vide order dated 25.03.2020. Thereafter telephonic legal mulakats were to be set up. However no such telephone setup has been provided so far," the petition read.

(PTI report)