The Bombay High Court has issued a series of stringent directives to the Colvale Central Jail authorities in Goa, demanding immediate upgrades to security infrastructure. This comes after the court was informed that an inmate, accused of murder, was using a mobile phone from inside the prison to call and harass the complainant.
Court's Stern Directives for Enhanced Security
Justice Shreeram Shirsat, presiding over the case, ordered the jail administration to install robust phone jammers or cellular inspection systems to block unauthorized communication. The bench also mandated that CCTV cameras must be installed at all inspection counters where inmates enter, if not already present.
Furthermore, the court ruled that every physical search of an incoming inmate must be conducted under the watchful eye of CCTV surveillance. In a significant move, the judge ordered the removal of all charging points from within the jail premises and called for an inquiry to determine how they were installed in the first place, aiming to fix accountability.
"Superficial Inspection or Deliberate Slackness?" Asks HC
The court expressed deep frustration over the recurring smuggling of mobile phones into the prison. "This court fails to understand as to how the mobile phones can be so easily slipped in, when the jail authorities do conduct regular inspections," Justice Shirsat observed.
The bench posed a hard-hitting question: "Is it that the inspection is superficial and just an eye wash or that a deliberate slack inspection is done at the entry point so that the mobile phones find their way inside the jail premises seamlessly?" The judge emphasized that some accountability has to be fixed and that jail officials cannot remain oblivious to such frequent security breaches.
Background: Calls from Behind Bars Trigger Action
The matter reached the High Court during a bail application hearing. The complainant had informed the Goa Children's Court that the murder accused was telephoning them from inside Colvale jail, causing mental disturbance. The complainant even provided specific mobile numbers and call timestamps, requesting action.
Following this, the Children's Court wrote to the jailor. A subsequent search led to the confiscation of a mobile phone from the accused's possession. The Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) for Colvale jail reported that a show-cause notice was issued to the accused and his privileges were curtailed as a disciplinary measure.
However, the High Court found this response inadequate. Justice Shirsat stated that "swift, comprehensive remedial and stringent measures" are necessary to prevent future occurrences. The court noted it has encountered similar incidents involving smuggling of phones and drugs into jails on multiple occasions, with no concrete preventive steps taken.
Additional Measures and Compliance
The court also directed that personal physical inspections of visitors meeting inmates must be recorded. It ordered that daily CCTV footage recordings be preserved on pen drives and submitted to the Deputy Superintendent of Police for safe custody.
The jail authorities have been asked to submit the inquiry report on charging points to the court by the next hearing date. The bench empowered them to devise additional measures to tackle the issue comprehensively.
Justifying its intervention in a bail application, the court stated it was "constrained to take cognisance" as it cannot turn "a Nelson’s eye to the life and liberty of the victim/complainant, while considering the life and liberty of the accused."
