HC issues notices to HS, DGP for illegal confinement of man

Jaipur, Apr 15 (UNI) The Rajasthan High Court today issued notices to the state Home Secretary, the Director General of Police, the Director General(Jails) and others in connection with the alleged illegal confinement of a man for 34 years.

A single judge bench of Justice Prem Shankar Aasopa issued the notices on a petition filed by All India Lawyers Union Secretary Vikram Singh Nain against the alleged illegal confinement of Prabhu Nath, hailing from Pattkori village of Basti district in Uttar Pradesh.

Prabhunath was apprehended by Border Security Force (BSF) in the Karanpur sector of Sriganganagar district in Rajasthan in 1974 for trying to cross the Indo-Pak border. The BSF then handed him over to the Karanpur police which sent him to the Sriganganagar District Jail from where he was shifted to the Jaipur Central Jail in 1976 following mental sickness. He has been lodged there since.

A few days after Prabhunath's arrest, the Karanpur police had filed a final report (FR) in his case but the same could not be submitted to the trial court leading him to remain confined for ''no reason''.

In the petition, filed through lawyer Dharmveer Tholia, the petitioner charged the prosecution and the Jail authorities with keeping him in ''unlawful confinement" for 34 years and for violating procedural norms and rules.

As Prabhunath is suffering from a mental disorder, the petitioner also prayed to the court to direct the state government to ensure his free treatment.

Justice Aasopa issued the notices and directed to serve the same on the officials concerned immediately through the Additional Advocate General.

The notices are returnable within two weeks.

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