New Delhi: Taking a grim view of “total disregard” of SC and its own directions to expand and strengthen open correctional institutions (OCIs) or open prisons, Delhi High Court Wednesday issued a contempt notice to the DG (prisons) and sought his response by Nov 18. It also warned Delhi’s chief secretary of contempt charges if HC’s time-bound directions given weren’t implemented.
HC had asked Delhi govt to file an affidavit detailing the steps taken to ensure compliance with SC’s Feb 26 order. When the bench asked if the state govt has framed or amended existing rules as directed by SC, it was informed by govt’s standing counsel (criminal) Sanjay Lao, on instructions from officers, that it was not required. HC asked if it should record the statement that no amendment or modification was required in the rules. When the counsel sought time, it pointed out a monitoring committee set up on orders of SC had met only once in Delhi’s case. It was hearing a suo motu PIL petition on the issue of semi-open and open prisons in Delhi.