HC wants details on 'pampering' of BSY

Hearing the petition by former police superintendent K N A Reddy that prison authorities have been allowing visitors to meet former chief minister B S Yeddyurappa in violation of the rules, a division bench of acting Chief Justice Vikramjit Sen and Justice A S Bopanna suggested that the petitioner get more evidence and information from prison authorities under the Right to Information Act as the petition, in its existing form appeared vague and without details.

Permitting visitors to the prisoners beyond the number allowed, the petitioner pointed out, totally contravened provisions of the Jail Manual 1978 that stipulates just four to six visitors.

The petitioner’s Counsel K Raghavendra, citing media reports, said some VIPs are immediately shifted to hospitals after arrest due to health reasons and questioned if common prisoners are given the same privilege.

“Immediately they are shifted to private hospitals and given treatment at hospitals with state of art facilities. But the same is not done with common prisoners,” he submitted.

The petitioner also sought action against Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda, who, according to him, had violated the rules by visiting his predecessor on Sunday in the prison.

He also sought the court’s directions to the Home Ministry to construct a hospital on the prison campus so that no prisoner can be shifted out in the name of treatment.

Upon the petitioner’s submission that he may not be able to furnish more information to build the case, the bench gave an oral order to Additional Advocate General K M Natraj to furnish details sought under the RTI within ten days.