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Category: Prison conditions

Bombay HC rejects Varavara Rao’s permanent bail plea; extends temporary bail

Bombay HC rejects Varavara Rao’s permanent bail plea; extends temporary bail

Bombay HC dismisses Varavara Rao’s plea seeking permanent bail, extends medical bail

13/04/2022

The Indian Express / by Express Web Desk

The court found said it some substance in contentions raised by the petitioner over conditions at Taloja central prison and said that it noted some deficiencies and passed directions in that regard.
The Bombay High Court Wednesday dismissed pleas filed by Elgaar Parishad accused Varavara Rao, who had sought permanent medical bail and permission to shift to Hyderabad in Telangana citing ill health and high expenses in Mumbai. However, the court extended the interim bail granted to Rao by three months to undergo cataract surgery.
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Bombay High Court Extends Temporary Bail Of Varavara Rao By 3 Months On Medical Grounds; Refuses Permanent Bail

13/04/2022

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

The Bombay High Court on Wednesday refused to grant permanent medical bail to Telugu poet and Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad accused P Varavara Rao. It however extended the period of temporary bail by three months for his cataract operation and issued directions to expedite the trial. The Court has also refused him permission to reside at his home in Telangana.
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Bombay HC rejects plea by Varavara Rao for permanent bail; extends temporary bail for 3 months

13/04/2022

Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi

A bench of SB Shukre and GA Sanap also rejected the application by Rao to stay in Telangana during the duration of bail.
“The present petition seeking permanent bail is dismissed. Plea seeking modification of bail to go to Telangana is dismissed,” the Court said.
The Court, however, extended for three more months an earlier order granting him temporary bail.
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Bombay HC reserves order on activist Gautam Navlakha’s plea seeking house arrest

Bombay HC reserves order on activist Gautam Navlakha’s plea seeking house arrest

Bombay HC reserves order on activist Gautam Navlakha’s plea seeking house arrest

06/04/2022

The Leaflet / by Sabah Gurmat

Tuesday, the Bombay High Court’ division bench of Justices S.B. Shukre and G.A. Sanap decided to reserve its verdict on journalist and activist Gautam Navlakha’s plea seeking house arrest in place of his incarceration at Navi Mumbai’s Taloja jail, citing his failing health conditions, and lack of proper medical care and basic facilities in prison.
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Bombay High Court reserves verdict in plea by Gautam Navlakha to be moved from prison to house arrest

05/04/2022

Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi

Navlakha prayed that he be transferred from Taloja Central Prison and placed under house arrest on the ground that the prison conditions are not suitable for a septuagenarian suffering from medical ailments.
The Bombay High Court on Tuesday reserved its verdict in the plea filed by Bhima Koregaon accused Gautam Navlakha praying that he be transferred from Taloja prison and placed under house arrest instead [Gautam Navlakha v. National Investigation Agency & Anr.]
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by Live Law (April 5):
#BombayHighCourt will shortly hear senior journalist #GautamNavlakha’s plea to be shifted out of Taloja prison and be placed under house arrest in the #BhimaKoregaon – #ElgarParishad case. Hearing before bench of Justices Sunil Shukre and GA Sanap for NIA’s arguments.

Yesterday, the judges made scathing observations against the Maha Govt for callously dealing with Navlakha’s allegations against prison officials for denying him books, spectacles and a chair.

Matter called out ASG Anil Singh for NIA Advs Yug Mohit Chaudhry along with Payoshi Roy for Navlakha

The state tries to file a second affidavit. Adv Chaudhry objects.

…

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Prison officials didn’t allow Gautam Navlakha to access P.G. Wodehouse’s book, called it ‘security risk’

Prison officials didn’t allow Gautam Navlakha to access P.G. Wodehouse’s book, called it ‘security risk’

by Bar & Bench (April 5)
#BombayHighCourt reserves order in plea filed by #BhimaKoregaon accused Gautam Navlakha seeking house arrest.

‘Comical’: HC Slams Prison Officials’ Move to Label Wodehouse Book for Navlakha ‘Security Risk’

05/04/2022

The Wire / by The Wire Staff

The Bombay HC was also unimpressed by the fact that the prosecutor did not address Gautam Navlakha’s allegations of having been denied basic rights in jail.
The Bombay high court has expressed frank surprise at Taloja prison officials’ decision to not allow Elgar Parishad accused Gautam Navlakha to access a book by one of the world’s most well-known English humour novelists, P.G. Wodehouse, by calling it a security risk.
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Prison officials didn’t allow Gautam Navlakha to access P.G. Wodehouse’s book, called it ‘security risk’

04/04/2022

The Leaflet / by Sabah Gurmat

Asking the NIA’s advocate Sandesh Patil, ‘Is P.G. Wodehouse considered a security threat?’, the Bombay High Court observed that it is really comical.
Earlier today, the Bombay High Court heard a plea filed by human rights activist and journalist Gautam Navlakha, one of the accused in the Bhima Koregaon (Elgar Parishad) conspiracy case, seeking his transfer from Navi Mumbai’s Taloja jail to judicial custody via house arrest, citing his advanced age and on the ground that he is suffering from various ailments.
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How can PG Wodehousebook be security threat; this is comical: Bombay High Court

04/04/2022

Bar & Bench / by Neha Joshi

The remarks from the Bench came after Navlakha told the Court that Taloja prison authorities had denied him a stool, his spectacles and even a book authored by PG Wodehouse.
The Bombay High Court was on Monday staggered by the allegations raised by Bhima Koregaon accused Gautam Navlakha that Taloja prison authorities had denied him a stool, his spectacles and even a book authored by PG Wodehouse [Gautam Navlakha v. National Investigation Agency & Anr.]
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‘PG Wodehouse A Security Threat? That’s Comical’: Bombay High Court Astonished At Prison Officials Denying Gauatam Navlakha Books

04/04/2022

Live Law / by Sharmeen Hakim

The Bombay High Court on Monday came down heavily on the Maharashtra Government for its callousness in dealing with serious allegations against officials of Taloja Prison, which were levelled by senior journalist Gautam Navlakha who has been imprisoned there in the Bhima Koregaon – Elgar Parishad Case.
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Why Surendra Gadling, a political prisoner, is alleging his life is in danger

Why Surendra Gadling, a political prisoner, is alleging his life is in danger

Times of India / by Parth MN

Advocate and activist Surendra Gadling, an accused in the Elagar Parishad-Maoist links case, has filed a criminal complaint against top prison authorities, claiming he is facing extreme harassment. The police, however, says that’s not the case
On November 24, 2021, Surendra Gadling “felt giddy” after visiting the toilet. The human rights lawyer and Dalit activist from Nagpur immediately went into “a semi-conscious state and fell on his back“, banging his head gainst the wall.
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Video: The Prison Song of Surendra Gadling

hindi | 11min | 2021

51- year-old Gadling, a well-known criminal lawyer in Nagpur, was once a cultural activist, who sang songs of political resistance. The 11- minutes- long rendition tells you what it means to be incarcerated in Indian prisons. From food, water, to medical care, everything is a struggle, Gadling narrates. The song was recorded by one of Gadling’s colleagues and was made available to The Wire after obtaining his consent.
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Legal Aid System In Prisons Ineffective; Many Languish In Jails Because Of This: Sudha Bharadwaj

Legal Aid System In Prisons Ineffective; Many Languish In Jails Because Of This: Sudha Bharadwaj

Live Law / by Mehal Jain

“I think that all of us must collectively fight for the stronger legal aid system. Without that, Article 21 and 39A do not exist for people in the jails”
Civil rights lawyer and activist Sudha Bharadwaj in a recent webinar spoke about the lack of effective legal aid system in prisons.
Ms.Bharadwaj, who spent as undertrial in the Bhima Koregaon case for over three years before she was granted bail by the Bombay High Court in December 2021, recounted her experiences in prison. She gave a direct account of the difficulties faced by several prisoners, especially those hailing from marginalised sections, in availing legal remedies. She also said that during her custody period she personally wrote hundreds of bail applications for fellow prisoners.
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Video: The Conditions of Prisoners in Indian Jails

26/03/2022


en | 1:21:23 | 2022

By All India Lawyers’ Association for Justice – AILAJ

The huge number of undertrials, the overcrowding, and the disproportional numbers of Dalit, Muslim and Adivasi prisoners are part of the prison problem in India.
We are joined by Adv. Sudha Bharadwaj for a discussion on the Conditions of Prisoners in Indian Jails.
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Video: In Conversation with Sudha Bharadwaj – The Conditions of Prisoners in Indian Jails

Video: In Conversation with Sudha Bharadwaj – The Conditions of Prisoners in Indian Jails

By All India Lawyers’ Association for Justice – AILAJ

The huge number of undertrials, the overcrowding, and the disproportional numbers of Dalit, Muslim and Adivasi prisoners are part of the prison problem in India.
We are joined by Adv. Sudha Bharadwaj for a discussion on the Conditions of Prisoners in Indian Jails.

en | 1:21:23 | 2022
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Activist Arun Ferreira alleges tampering with Covid certificate, seeks probe

Activist Arun Ferreira alleges tampering with Covid certificate, seeks probe

The Indian Express / by Express News Service

Ferreira has annexed both the certificates with his plea. Lodged at Taloja central jail, Ferreira’s plea states that on January 4, he had made an oral request to the prison superintendent seeking a copy of both his Covid vaccination certificates.
Arun Ferreira, who was arrested in the Elgaar Parishad case, has filed an application before the special court seeking an inquiry over his claim that he was given a different Covid-19 vaccination certificate from the one accessed by his family from the CoWin app.
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Also read:
● For the Government, COVID Is the Perfect Excuse to Worsen Conditions for Political Prisoners (The Wire / Jan 2022)
● Video: Jailed to die? India’s Incarcerated Human Rights Defenders and the Covid Ermergency (InSAF India / June 2021). Public Appeal Meeting with family members of The BK16, and legal and human rights experts.

‘Corporate is supporting communal agenda’: Sudha Bharadwaj

‘Corporate is supporting communal agenda’: Sudha Bharadwaj


hindi | 48:02min | 2022

By Satya Hindi

Was the corporate world the reason for the arrest of Sudha Bharadwaj, a social worker who fought for the underprivileged? Was there a conspiracy to implicate him in the Bhima Koregaon case? How was her experience during his three years in prison? How does she view the current times for socio-economic movements? Does she expect times to change? Dr. Mukesh Kumar talking to Sudha Bhardwaj.
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Surendra Gadling permitted use of laptop in prison / Prosecution to hand over cloned copies

Surendra Gadling permitted use of laptop in prison / Prosecution to hand over cloned copies

Elgar Parishad case accused gets nod to use computer in jail

17/03/2022

Times of India / by TNN

The special NIA court on Wednesday allowed lawyer Surendra Gadling an accused in the Elgar Parishad case, to use a computer in jail for an hour, two days a week. Gadling had sought access to his laptop, submitting that he wanted to prepare his defence.
Meanwhile, the prosecution is to hand over the cloned copies of all the pieces of electronic evidence gathered in the case to the accused.
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Surendra Gadling permitted use of laptop in prison

16/03/2022

Free Press Journal / by Staff Reporter

A special court under the National Investigation Agency (NIA) Act has permitted the use of a laptop in Taloja jail for Bhima Koregaon accused and lawyer Surendra Gadling.
Gadling had sought to be allowed the use of the device as he is appearing in person in the case.
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Court allows Elgar case accused Gadling to use jail computer

16/03/2022

The Print / by pti

A special NIA court here on Wednesday allowed advocate Surendra Gadling, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, to use computer available in the prison where he is lodged, for an hour two days a week…
Meanwhile, the court allowed a plea of another accused, lawyer-activist Sudha Bharadwaj who is currently on bail, to reside in Mumbai’s suburb of Oshiwara…
The court also granted a petition of Jyoti Jagtap, a co-accused, to receive a set of books.
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Gautam Navlakha, in anda cell, permitted daily walk in prison

Gautam Navlakha, in anda cell, permitted daily walk in prison

Bhima-Koregaon accused Gautam Navlakha, in anda cell, permitted daily walk in prison

16/03/2022

Free Press Journal / by Bhavna Uchil

In a handwritten plea filed by Navlakha before the court on Dec 30 last year, he had sought that he be allowed an hour of fresh air and sun in the prison premises. He had submitted the plea when he was produced before the court that day along with his co-accused.
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Gautam Navlakha allowed 30 min out of anda cell

16/03/2022

The Indian Express / by Express News Service

Gautam Navlakha was arrested in April 2020 in connection with the case.
A special court on Tuesday allowed activist Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the Elgaar Parishad case, to be taken outside the anda cell he is lodged in at Taloja Central Prison for 30 minutes. Navlakha in his plea filed last December had said that he is 70 and lodged in the prison as an undertrial.
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Also read:
● All I ask is an hour to breathe in fresh air, soak in sun, rights activist Gautam Navlakha in plea (Free Press Journal / Dec 2021)
● How the ‘anda cell’ is used to discipline prison inmates (The Indian Express / Oct 2021)