The Jharkhand High Court has issued a stern reprimand to the state government and its jail administration for failing to provide a satisfactory account of serious security breaches at the Birsa Munda Central Jail in Hotwar, Ranchi. The court's strong reaction came during a hearing on Tuesday, where it expressed dissatisfaction with the affidavit filed by the authorities.
Court Initiates Action After Viral Video Scandal
The entire matter came to light after a video showing two inmates, identified as Vidhu Gupta and Siddharth Singhania, dancing inside the high-security prison went viral on social media. The incident received widespread media coverage, prompting the High Court to take suo moto cognizance on November 14 last year. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Rajesh Shankar is overseeing the public interest litigation (PIL) initiated by the court itself.
Inadequate Action Against Officials Draws Ire
During the recent hearing, the bench pointed out the glaring inadequacy in the government's response. While the state informed the court about the suspension of an assistant jailer and a warder, the High Court observed that this action was insufficient. Senior officials responsible for overall jail security have been left untouched, with no disciplinary measures taken against them.
The court has now directed the government to file a supplementary affidavit detailing what specific actions have been initiated against the jail superintendent and the Inspector General (Prisons). The bench made it clear that holding only junior staff accountable for systemic failures is not acceptable.
Critical Questions on Mobile Phones and Jammers
Beyond personnel accountability, the High Court delved into the technical and procedural lapses that allowed the incident to happen. The bench raised serious questions about the operational status of mobile phone jammers within the jail premises. The very fact that inmates could record and possibly upload a video suggests a catastrophic failure of these essential security devices.
Furthermore, the court has demanded crucial information from the government:
- Details of individuals captured on CCTV footage who allegedly supplied mobile phones with internet access to the prisoners.
- A complete report on the functionality and monitoring of mobile jammers inside the jail campus.
Threat of Independent High-Level Probe
The High Court issued a clear warning to the state government. It cautioned that if appropriate and decisive action is not taken against the senior jail officials responsible for maintaining security protocols, the court will be compelled to order an independent enquiry by a high-level committee. This underscores the court's serious view of the negligence that compromised the security of a central jail.
The case has been scheduled for its next hearing after a fortnight, giving the state government time to compile and present a more comprehensive action-taken report. The court's intervention highlights ongoing concerns about security and management in prisons, demanding accountability at the highest levels of the administration.
