The petition by Shameen Ahmed and six other UTPs, native of Delhi, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh who are in jail since three to five years, said, there were about 40 to 50 North Indian prisoners in Central Jail. They have become weak consuming the South Indian food served in jail. The canteen from where they were getting ration for cooking their own food was closed in July 2007 and outside food was banned, they stated.
Their complaints include overcrowded rooms with 90 to 100 inmates each, scuffles amongst prisoners over use of toilets and misplaced belongings, language problem leading to misunderstanding, unhygienic jail toilets, erratic water supply, torture and harassment by jail officials and irregularity in production of UTPs before trial courts, affecting speedy trial.
They appealed for protection of their right to life and sought directions to authorities for providing proper food, water, clothes, regular production of UTPs for trial and medical facilities outside jail hospital.
When the matter came up for preliminary hearing on Tuesday, Justice K L Manjunath observed that it was in the nature of a PIL, and referred it to the Division Bench headed by the Chief Justice.