Bombay HC Urges Maharashtra Govt To Publish Prison, Police Manuals Online; Seeks Report On Jail Healthcare, Ambulance Access

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Thursday asked the Maharashtra Government to consider publishing the prison and police manuals on its official websites. The court noted that social media platforms should be used to make such critical information accessible to the public.

The bench of Justices Revati Mohite-Dere and Neela Gokhale remarked that there was nothing confidential about the prison manual. The bench has asked the State to take instructions from senior officers on whether there were reasons the manuals have not been published online.

The HC was hearing a petition by Arun Bhelke seeking strict implementation of the Central government's 2022 advisory for terminally ill and the Maharashtra Prisons (Review of Sentences) Rules for terminally ill prisoners.

Bhelke, who along with his wife, Kanchan Nanaware, were lodged in Yerwada jail under UAPA provisions. Diagnosed with a terminal illness in 2020, Nanaware sought medical bail, but delays and procedural hurdles meant no relief was granted. Although a medical board recommended a heart and lung transplant, she died in January 2021 after seven years in prison. Following her death, he petitioned the HC.

His advocate, Gayatri Singh, submitted that key provisions concerning prisoner healthcare are laid out in the prison manuals, yet these documents are not available online and remain inaccessible to inmates.

The judges also raised concern about the condition of healthcare in Maharashtra’s prisons and availability of emergency transport services.

It queried about the availability of medicines, qualified doctors and vacancies for medical posts in hospital prisons. Further it asked about availability of well-equipped ambulances in all jails to transport inmates to other hospitals, if required. The HC has kept the petition for hearing on April 28.