A Rouse Avenue Court Special Court on Tuesday sought a response from Tihar Jail Authorities on jailed Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain’s plea for a direction to provide food in accordance with his religious beliefs and to immediately conduct the applicant’s medical check-up, which has been due since October 21.
On Tuesday, Special Judge Vikas Dhull scheduled the case for tomorrow and issued a warning to Tihar Jail authorities regarding Satyender Jain’s food and health situation. The same Court also heard detailed arguments on a contempt petition filed by Satyender Jain’s legal team accusing the ED of releasing CCTV footage of Satyender Jain notwithstanding an agreement not to divulge any material of the pen drive including video of inside Tihar Jail.
The court scheduled the hearing for November 28, 2022.
Satyendar noted in his petition that the jail administration has ceased giving him with essential dietary items that conform to his religious views, such as fruits, vegetables, mixed seeds, dried fruits, and dates.
Because the applicant has been on a religious fast for the last six months, dietary intake of such fundamental food items is essential for his nutrition, nourishment, and life. The religious fast poses a major danger of protein and iron deficiencies, according to the request.
The appeal has been filed with Special Judge Vikas Dhull and is expected to be considered on Tuesday along with other outstanding motions. The bail for Jain and two others in the case was recently denied by the same judge.
Based on a CBI FIR launched against him in 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the Enforcement Directorate detained Jain in a money laundering case. Jain is accused of laundering money through four entities that are reportedly tied to him.
The petition further noted that the applicant has lost 2 kg of weight in the last week as a result of the withdrawal of food items given to him.
In total since the day of his arrest, he has lost 28 kg in the last six months which is indicative of the applicant’s debilitating health status. It is his most basic human right to have food to survive. The said stoppage of food items during the religious fast is illegal, and arbitrary and amounts to harassment of applicants within the Jail premises.
The plea also stated that the applicant was due for a medical check-up including MRI Scans on the October 21 and the same was not allowed to be done by the jail authorities, citing one excuse or another, ultimately delaying it till now for 30 days.
In all, he has dropped 28 kg in the previous six months since his detention, indicating the applicant’s terrible health condition. It is his most fundamental human right to have nourishment in order to exist. The aforementioned prohibition on food items during the religious fast is illegal, arbitrary, and amounts to harassment of applicants within the Jail grounds.
The plea also stated that the applicant was due for a medical check-up, including MRI scans, on October 21 and that the jail authorities refused to allow it, citing various reasons, ultimately delaying it for 30 days.
That the applicant has a history of severe medical illness – the post-COVID cardio-pulmonary issues, falling in the jail toilet causing nerve ending damage and a spine injury – for which the Applicant has been admitted to hospital- both prison and referral, and has been operated on twice under anaesthesia, whereby injections were administered to block the nerves causing pain, and the applicant’s recovery was then advised to be augmented with a physiotherapist.
