Magisterial inquiry into Tihar deaths ordered

New Delhi, June 13: The Delhi government today ordered a magisterial inquiry into the spate of deaths in Tihar jail due to inhospitable living conditions.

Lt Governor Tajender Khanna, on the recommendation of the Home Department, ordered the Inquiry to be conducted by Additional District Magistrate (West) Sanjeev Mittal.

As many as seven people, including a jail warden, have died in the prison, in the past eight days.

The inquiry report is to be submitted at the earliest after completion of the probe by June 25.

The probe will determine the Sections of law under which the inmates had been detained and details of the cases and stage of trial and the period spent under police custody and judicial custody respectively.

Details of medical examination at the time of being lodged in the Jail are also to be ascertained with subsequent treatment given and specific details as to referral treatment given.

The nature and course of treatment at the Referral hospital will also be determined and whether inquest proceedings have started and what stage they have reached.

The inquiry will also look into the need for improving necessary infrastructure vis-a-vis adequate drinking water and sanitation to minimize the incidents of debilitation and diseases.

Besides inquiry, inquest proceedings are also being conducted. During inquest proceedings, the statements of the co-prisoners and witnesses are recorded by the Magistrate and the postmortem conducted by the panel of doctors.

Directions have been issued to the Superintendent Jails and Medical Officers of Delhi Prisons for taking urgent measures, including providing adequate water and lemon juice, to the inmates in view of the rising temperature and humidity.

UNI