HC flags 33 inmate deaths a yr, seeks prison chief’s affidavit

Raipur: The Chhattisgarh high court flagged serious concerns over rising inmate fatalities—33 in a year—including 10 in Bilaspur, 8 in Durg, and 5 in Ambikapur. The court sought a personal affidavit from the Director General (Prisons), noting delays in post-mortem reports and the gravity of allegations despite the state disputing the figures. Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission has also demanded a detailed report on prison deaths and medical facilities, intensifying scrutiny of custodial conditions in the state. The high court on April 1 took suo motu cognizance of reports indicating a rise in inmate deaths across various state prisons. A division bench comprising Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal has directed the director general (prisons) to file a personal affidavit addressing the matter. According to the report, Bilaspur Central Jail recorded the highest number of casualties with 10 deaths. Durg Central Jail followed with eight deaths, while five inmates died in Ambikapur Central Jail. Other fatalities were reported from Jagdalpur and Gariaband (two each), and one each from Dhamtari, Balrampur, Mungeli, Korba, Raigarh, and Kanker. The report highlighted that many of these inmates were shifted to Chhattisgarh Institute of Medical Sciences (CIMS), Bilaspur, or Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital, Raipur, after falling ill, but they did not survive. The court expressed concern over the delay in post-mortem results. Out of the 33 reported deaths, the jail department is yet to receive post-mortem reports for 22 inmates. In one instance from Durg jail, a post-mortem report remains pending since February 27, 2025. While some deaths have been attributed to heart or kidney failure, magisterial inquiries have been ordered in specific cases. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has also sought a detailed report from the chief secretary and the director general (prisons) regarding inmate deaths over the last two years. The Commission has raised questions about the medical facilities provided to prisoners. Although the state counsel, additional advocate general Praveen Das, submitted that the news report was incorrect, the bench observed that the nature of the allegations necessitated a formal response. The court has scheduled the next hearing for April 15.