The Jharkhand High Court strongly criticized the state government over serious jail security lapses after a video of inmates dancing inside Birsa Munda Central Jail went viral. The court termed the state’s response “wholly unsatisfactory” and sought accountability from senior officials.
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RANCHI: The Jharkhand High Court criticized the state government and the administration of Birsa Munda Central Jail in Hotwar for failing to maintain prison security, following a bizarre incident in which two inmates were seen dancing inside the jail premises. The court expressed serious displeasure over the authorities’ failure to file a proper affidavit explaining the security lapses.
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Tarlok Singh Chauhan and Justice Rajesh Shankar was hearing a suo motu Public Interest Litigation (PIL) initiated after a video dated November 12 went viral on social media. The video triggered widespread outrage, raising questions about lax discipline, the availability of contraband, and poor supervision inside Jharkhand’s largest central jail.
During the hearing, the High Court observed that the response submitted by the state government was wholly unsatisfactory. While the authorities reported the suspension of an assistant jailer and a warden, the bench noted that no action had been taken against senior prison officials, including the jail superintendent and the Inspector General (Prisons).
The court directed the state government to file a supplementary affidavit, clearly detailing the steps taken or proposed against these senior officers who are responsible for overall jail administration and security.
The bench also raised serious concerns about the presence of mobile phones inside the prison, particularly as the inmates involved were reportedly lodged in connection with a liquor scam. The court sought a clear explanation of how the inmates gained access to mobile devices, enabling them to record and circulate the video from within the jail.
Additionally, the High Court asked the state to provide detailed information regarding the installation, operation, and effectiveness of mobile signal jammers within the jail premises, questioning whether the anti-communication measures were functioning at all.
