HC concerned over few jobs for inmates at Mandoli prison

NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court has expressed concern over the alleged non-availability of enough jobs for inmates at the newly constructed Mandoli prison in east Delhi, an extension of the overcrowded Tihar Jail.

A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice G S Sistani was surprised when it was told by a life convict from Mandoli prison that he has not been given any job to earn during his incarceration.

The court wondered how it was allowed when it had earlier told the DG Prisons that people who were earning while outside, should not be put in a nonearning position while in jail.

The submission by the convict was made before the bench in response to its query to him and his two brothers and co-convicts as to what work they do while in jail and how much do they earn, as well as whether they were able to send any money to their families.

The submissions were made when the three convicts, who were awarded life term for beating a man to death while in an inebriated state, were produced before the bench on its orders.

The high court has now reserved its verdict on the appeals of the three against their conviction and award of life imprisonment.

One of the three convicts, who is lodged in Tihar Jail, told the bench that he was working in the prison bakery. Of the remaining two, who are lodged in Mandoli jail, one said he was engaged in farming work, while the other said he has no job which surprised the court.

The convict, who claimed he had no job, also alleged that there were several other inmates like him who had no work.

Prior to their arrest and conviction, the three brothers worked together as ‘kabadis’ or scrap dealers. The three were convicted of killing a man, Ram Asrey, who had tried to intervene in their fight.

According to the police, the incident occurred on the night of October 17, 2011, when the victim and his wife had gone to the matrimonial house of their daughter in Nihal Vihar area in west Delhi.