SrinagarAs non-availability of ambulance and timely police escort proves fatal in times of emergency for prisoners, the State Human Rights Commission on Monday directed government to provide both facilities to all the major jails in Jammu and Kashmir on permanent basis within six months.
Chairperson SHRC Justice (retd) Bilal Nazki passed the order while disposing of a case filed by a woman who claimed that her husband died in custody as he could not be taken to a hospital in time in 2014.
The Superintendent of Central Jail in his report dated 22 February 2014 submitted that in spite of repeated requests the Police authorities fail to provide timely escorts so that patients could be immediately referred to the Hospital. While I personally visited many jails in the state every jail Superintendent complained that they do not get police ambulance or escort in case of emergencies which results in delay in taking the patients to hospitals, the SHRC chairperson said and directed that all the major jails in the state be provided ambulances with escort on permanent basis.
This process shall be completed within a period of six months. Smaller jails can utilize the services of major jails by and when required, the SHRC added.
In her plea, Haleema, widow of Mukhtar Ahmad Bhat, who died in custody in February 2014, said that her husband was lodged in central jail Srinagar, facing trail in case (FIR No. 322/2013).
On 20 February 2014, less than a month after he was lodged in jail, Bhat complained of abdominal pain and was referred to JLNM Hospital Rainawari wherefrom he was referred to SMHS Hospital Srinagar where he died on 22 February 2014.
According to the doctors, who conducted his post-mortem, Bhat died “acute haemorrhagic Pancratits” with multiple organs dysfunctional.
I do not find that the cause of death of the deceased could be attributed to Jail authorities and the prisoner died because of the medical condition he had,” observed the SHRC Chairperson while deciding the case
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