Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has given a shock to the accused in the Renukaswamy murder case, Pavitra Gowda and others, who had demanded home meals, and has given a strong message that ‘home meals only for medical reasons, not on request’.
Yes.. The High Court has put a break on home meals for the three accused in the Renukaswamy murder case, Pavitra Gowda, Nagaraj and Lakshman, and has ordered that home meals cannot be provided, overturning the lower court order that said they can get home meals once a week and for medical reasons.
Some accused in the Chitradurga Renukaswamy murder case, including Pavitra Gowda, are in Parappana Agrahara in Bengaluru. Pavitra Gowda, Nagaraju and Lakshman, who had filed an application in the 57th Trial Court, were getting home meals.
The trial court had ordered that the three accused could get home-cooked meals once a week for medical reasons. Accordingly, these three accused were getting home-cooked meals. The jail authorities, who opposed this, had filed an application in the High Court.
What did the court say?
The prosecution had approached the High Court challenging the order of the Sessions Court. A single-judge bench headed by Justice M. Nagaprasanna, which heard the application, issued this order. ‘It is not legally right to provide home-cooked meals only on the personal request or wish of the undertrial prisoners. It is not appropriate to provide such a facility without a medical emergency or official advice from a doctor,’ it said.
Court’s concern
During the hearing, the court highlighted an important point that ‘if only a few influential prisoners in the jail are given home-cooked meals, it will be like discrimination among other general prisoners. The judge clarified that the jail rules should be the same for everyone.’ Similarly, the court said that the jail authorities are allowed to re-apply for home-cooked meals only if there is a doctor’s recommendation.
High Court eyes quality of jail food
Similarly, the High Court has also seriously discussed the quality of food provided to prisoners in jail. Earlier, the cost of a prisoner’s daily meal was Rs 82, but now it has been increased to Rs 125, informed SPP Jagadish. Responding to this, the court said, ‘Even if the cost is increased to Rs 125, it is essential to check the quality of the food’