Team to visit Jammu jail on HC order

Srinagar, March 19:The High Court on Wednesday constituted a three-member team to be headed by district and session judge Jammu to visit Kotbalwal Jail Jammu within three days. The team has been asked to furnish a report about the condition of the inmates in a week. The directions to this effect were passed by Justice Muhammad Yaqoob Mir after hearing a petition moved by Masrat Alam Bhat, vice-chairman of Muslim League, through his counsel Advocate Mian Abdul Qayyum. ML is a close ally in Hurriyat Conference led by Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Earlier Qayyum moved an interim application stating therein that inmates of the jail are being harassed and beaten.He called attention of the court towards the alleged hooliganism of SP prisons Salim Mirza from last one week on the inmates.Masrat Alam had moved a petition in the court seeking an end to the harassment and providing of food and medical facilities as prescribed in jail menu. The court on February 21 had asked jail superintendent to produce objections and directed district and session judge Jammu, Chief Medical Officer Jammu and district magistrate Jammu to visit Kotbalwal jail and inquire after about the inmates. "Soon after the direction, my client Masrat Alam Bhat was beaten to pulp and despite being wounded, he was deprived of medical care," Qayyum, the former Bar Association president informed the court. Ironically, the team too, he said, paid no attention to the court direction "as they didn't find the visit feasible." "Consequently, a team of Kashmir Bar Association was also stopped from visiting the jail and were forced to return," he said. Qayyum said he suspected that the assault on Masrat Alam was due to vengeance and "I have no information about my client whether he is alive or dead." Additional Advocate General Muhammad Amin was also present during the proceedings. After hearing the arguments from both sides, Justice Yaqoob constituted a three- member team to be headed by district and session judge Jammu and directed them to visit the jail within three days. The team has been also asked to meet Masrat Alam personally and produce report about his health before the court. The case has been listed for March 25.
ETALAAT; Muhammad Yousuf