Accused denied treatment, court rap jail official

Rajinder Nagarkoti

Tribune News Service

Panchkula, April 24

A local court has rapped the Ambala jail authorities for not providing cancer treatment to an accused in the cash-for-job scam just because a police escort guard is unavailable.

Additional Sessions Judge Narender Sura, in its order, has directed Superintendent, Ambala Central Jail, to take steps for taking the accused, Surender Kumar, to the Chandigarh’s PGI, where facility of PET scan is available.

The Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Panchkula, was directed to make arrangements for taking the accused to the hospital.

Coming down heavily on the Ambala jail authorities, the judge’s order states, “It is very strange that a prisoner/undertrial is struggling for his life as he is suffering from cancer grade III, but he could not be taken to the Civil Hospital, Ambala City, due to non-availability of a police escort guard.”

The order further reads, “It is an admitted fact that the facility of PET scan is unavailable at the Civil Hospital, Ambala City. So, there was no need to refer him to that hospital. The efforts made by the jail authorities are nothing, but an eyewash.”

“It has been held by the Supreme Court that ‘right to healthcare’ is an essential ingredient under Article 21 of the Constitution and the state is under obligation to preserve lives of prisoners. Medical Officer, Central Jail, Ambala, is positioned to meet this obligation,” the order reads.

Cash-for-job scam

The court order reads, "The Superintendent, Central Jail, Ambala, cannot wash his hands off by merely stating that PET scan facility is not available in Ambala or in the jail hospital. Once it has come in his knowledge that the petitioner is suffering from the third stage of cancer, he is duty bound to take him to hospital where he can be treated. It is a failure on the part of the jail authorities in providing treatment to a prisoner."