Delhi HC Raps Tihar Jail Administration Over ‘Unacceptable State Of Affairs’

DELHI High Court on Monday chided Tihar Jail authorities over the murder of jailed gangster Tillu Tajpuriya. The court asked why no action was taken to prevent this from happening and held that the state of affairs in the jail are totally “unacceptable”.

Tajpuriya was killed by members of the rival gang within the Tihar prison premises on May 2. He was stabbed to death and the entire incident was reportedly captured on camera. Justice Jasmeet Singh of the High Court examined the footage which shows that Tajpuriya was taken outside his cell and stabbed. The court said that it was “unable to comprehend” why no steps were taken by authorities.

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“This is totally an unacceptable state of affairs. The security of every prisoner is on the respondent and it [court] is unable to comprehend if the entire incident was captured in CCTV installed in jail, why no steps were taken when the incident was happening,” the Court said, according to a report by LiveLaw.

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Tajpuriya’s father and brother have filed a case in the court and sought a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation into the murder of their gangster son. They have also sought protection to them. The court was hearing this case when it commented on the state of affairs in the Tihar jail.

The court has sought a response from the Director General of Prison, Tihar Jail, on how four knives could be brought in the jail complex and why no preventive measure was taken when the entire incident was captured by CCTV.

Authorities have one week to submit their response. The Court has also directed authorities to provide a status report should apprise the court of the jail officers who are responsible for the lapses.

The next date of hearing in the case has been set on May 25 and the superintendent of Tihar Jail has been directed to be present in the Court on that date. Moreover, Tajpuriya’s brother and father have also granted protection by the court. The advocate representing Tajpuriya’s father and brother had claimed that the jail authorities and the murders of the slain gangster had connived to carry this out.

Appearing for the state, Additional Standing Counsel Rahul Tyagi informed the court that the case has now been transferred to the Special Cell of Delhi Police for further investigation. Responding to Justice Singh’s question on did this happen under the watch of the police, Tyagi said that it was a case of rivalry between Tajpuriya and another gang.

“Should I record that you’re not responsible and prisoners are free to cut the jail bars?,” Justice Singh asked. Meanwhile, seven police personnel have been suspended for allegedly standing as mute spectators when Tajpuriya was being stabbed.

(With agency inputs)