HC issues notice to Tihar jail Superintendent

New Delhi, Aug 4 (UNI) The Delhi High Court has issued a notice to a Tihar Jail Superintendent for not providing a convict with any legal aid entitled to him under the Constitution.

Raees, serving a sentence of seven years in Tihar jail since October 27, 2005, has not been able to challenge his sentence in absence of any legal aid.

Appearing for him, Rishikesh Choudhary submitted before the court that Raees was too poor to afford any legal help. Mr Choudhary argued that the convict has nobody left in his family to turn to.

Therefore, the onus for providing him with legal aid squarely falls on the state.

After hearing state counsel Pawan Sharma, Justice Kailash Gambhir on Friday issued the notice to the Tihar jail superintendent. The notice mentions, ''it is no doubt quite shocking that the accused appellant wanted to challenge the sentence and the conviction. But he couldn't do so in absence of any legal aid to him. Let at first instance, the Superintendent of Tihar jail file a report giving reason as to why the accused appellant couldn't prefer an appeal for such a long period (2 years 9 months).'' Raees was apprehended by the police near Mecca Mosque on October 27, 2005 and sentenced to seven years for allegedly carrying counterfeit notes.

UNI SSS SP GC1900