Make all prisons disabled-friendly, SC directs states

The Supreme Court has passed sweeping directions to all states and union territories to make prisons disabled-friendly and sought a compliance report within four months.

- Abraham Thomas [e-mail]

The order, passed early this week, sought details of various aspects related to audit of prison infrastructure for disabled prisoners, their educational and health requirements and effective grievance redressal mechanism.

A bench of justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta passed the order in a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by activist Satyan Naravoor who cited the instances of wheelchair-bound former Delhi University professor GN Saibaba and Parkinson-affected Stan Swamy. While Swamy died in incarceration in the Bhima Koregaon violence case, Saibaba passed away a few months after his acquittal in a case where he was alleged to have links with banned Maoists.