Satyendar Jain Provided ‘Preferential Treatment’ By Tihar Jail Officials: Delhi Court

The plea filed by jailed Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain for having special food as per his religious beliefs was dismissed by a Delhi Court on Saturday.

Satyendar Jain: The plea filed by jailed Delhi Minister Satyendar Jain for having special food as per his religious beliefs was dismissed by a Delhi Court on Saturday as, while passing the order, the court stated that Tihar Jail’s records “prima facie show that its officials were providing preferential treatment” to Satyneder Jain by providing him fruits and vegetables, being a minister of the Delhi government, in violation of DPR 2018. Referring to Satyender Jain’s assertion that he has lost 28 kg of weight in the Tihar Jail, Special Judge Vikas Dhull on Saturday stated that the loss of weight of Satyender Jain is on account of his not consuming regular food and that Tihar Jail Administration is not responsible for the same.

“No ground is made to direct DG (Prison) and Superintendent, Tihar Jail to provide fruits, vegetables, and dry fruits to the applicant Satyendar Kumar Jain. Accordingly, the application is dismissed,” said the court.

“I would like to observe that as and when the applicant shows his desire to observe a religious fast, as enjoined by his religion, then he shall inform the jail administration about the same in writing and thereafter, the jail administration will decide the request of the applicant, keeping in view of Rule 1142 of DPR 2018 and in case, the applicant is permitted to keep a religious fast, then he shall be provided food articles as allowed by the order of the Government as per Rule 341 of DPR 2018,” said Special Judge Vikas Dhull.

The court said there is no ground made out to interfere with the advice of the medical officer dated November 11, 2022, stopping the dry fruits of Satyender Jain, after noting that the medical officer is the best person who can advice the prescribed diet to the prisoners after observing the health of the inmates/prisoners.