The High Court recently directed the state government to consider implementing a circular issued by the central government in 2010 to provide medical bail to critically ill prisoners.
A bench of Justice Revathi Mohite-Dere and Justice Prithviraj Chavan visited Yerawada Jail in Pune on Sunday. At that time, the bench passed the above order after visiting the prisoners, especially the women prisoners and inspecting the condition there. Also, the state government was told to file a detailed affidavit on this serious matter and the implementation of the circular. The court was hearing a plea filed by Arun Bhelke, who was lodged in Yerwada jail along with his wife Kanchan Nanavare after his arrest in a 2014 case under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). At that time, the court issued the above instructions to the government.
According to the petition, Kanchan Nanavare was diagnosed with a serious illness in 2020. But, they could not get medical bail. Kachan approached the High Court seeking bail on medical grounds. At that time she was referred to the medical board. A medical test recommended that Kanchan needs a heart and lung transplant. However, Kanchan died in January 2021 after spending seven years in jail until any order was passed on the matter.
He then petitioned the High Court seeking an order to strictly implement the provisions of the Maharashtra Advisory and Prisons (Review of Sentence) Rules, 2010. In future, no one else should be in the same situation as his wife. On behalf of Bhelke, the court was told that the Superintendent of Jails has the power to hand over a terminally ill prisoner to his relatives on certain terms and conditions so that a person can spend his last days with his family.