The Bombay HC on Monday express displeasure when told that three students were allowed
to give their final exams only after they were fettered to the desk
The Bombay HC on Monday express displeasure when told that
three students were allowed to give their final exams only after they were fettered
to the desk. They were among 100 persons arrested in May 2001 for protesting against
a proposed special economic zone (SEZ) at Sinnar in Nashik.
A division bench of Justice Ranjana Desai and Justice Rajesh Ketkar was hearing
a petition filed by Criminal Justice Initiative of the Indian Centre of Human Rights
and Law against blatant handcuffing and fettering of prisoners on their way to and
from jails and from police stations to courts. The petitioner cited three recent
incidents including those of students from Nashik. If true, we will find out. The
police can’t do this. You can’t treat prisoners like this, said Justice Desai.
The first incident was of handcuffing of a prisoner in the Andheri magistrate court
in May. The second, also in May, was where three college students were allowed to
appear for their exams only after their ankles were fettered to the desk in Nashik.
The third incident was of August 8 where a prisoner was not only handcuffed but
also fettered with ropes while being escorted from CST to Hutatma Chowk.
Two students belonged to JMD College. The third was an MBA student from Sanjivani
Rural Society, Kopargaon. They were handcuffed. The examiner protested that the
students cannot write in this condition. Later, their legs were fettered to the
desks, argued advocate Kranti. Since the public prosecutor was absent the judges
directed an assistant police commissioner to be present in court to communicate
their queries and find out details. Is it true we want to know, said Justice Desai.
The petition urged for direction to all principal sessions judges and
police to follow the SCs directions pertaining to handcuffing or fettering of prisoners.
Courtesy: Times of India
