The Jharkhand High Court on Thursday instituted a public interest litigation (PIL) concerning the acute scarcity of doctors in the state's jails. A division bench comprising Justices Sujit Narayan Prasad and Sanjay Prasad was hearing a criminal appeal when it was informed that the appellant, a patient suffering from renal problems, had died in jail due to lack of proper treatment.
Background of the Case
The patient had filed a petition seeking suspension of his sentence and release from jail to access better medical treatment. The petition highlighted that the medical facilities in the jail were insufficient for his condition and requested bail to receive treatment at a private facility. The state government had sought an adjournment to file its reply, but before it could do so, the court was informed of the patient's death.
Court's Inquiry and Findings
Taking the matter seriously, the court inquired about the vacancy of doctors in jails. It was informed that out of 43 sanctioned posts for doctors across all jails in the state, only one post is occupied, leaving 42 vacant. The court was also told that medical facilities and infrastructure in the jails are severely lacking.
Jharkhand has six central jails located in Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Hazaribag, Deoghar, Dumka, and Giridih. In addition, there are 16 district jails and six sub-jails, including facilities in Palamu (Medininagar) and Simdega.
PIL Registration and Further Action
Considering the gravity of the situation, the division bench registered the PIL suo moto and referred it to the bench of the Chief Justice for further adjudication. The high court also granted the kin of the deceased appellant the liberty to seek compensation from the government.
This development underscores the urgent need to address the healthcare crisis in Jharkhand's prisons, where inadequate medical staffing and infrastructure have led to tragic consequences.
