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Cautions Warden Mr. Sagar for Beating Inmates with Danda After Quarrel Controlled
In a firm rebuke of within prison walls, the on Wednesday cautioned jail warden Mr. Sagar for beating inmates with a
danda
(thick stick) after a quarrel had already been brought under control. A
of Justice Prathiba M. Singh and Justice Dinesh Bhatt, reviewing CCTV footage of the incident, deemed the warden’s conduct
"completely unnecessary and uncalled for"
and warned that any repetition would invite stern action.
Incident Captured on Camera
The case stemmed from a filed by one Ashish alias Vicky, but the court’s attention turned to a separate incident inside the jail complex on . CCTV footage showed a quarrel among ten to twelve inmates in an open area. The warden, Mr. Sagar, initially used a danda to disperse them, and the inmates returned to their cells. However, the footage then captured the warden returning with additional staff, bringing the inmates back out, and again striking them with the stick.
Court’s Analysis: Violence After Control Was Impermissible
The court noted that the second round of beatings occurred after the situation had de-escalated. The warden, present in court, claimed the inmates had used abusive language toward him. The (APP) also submitted, on the warden’s instructions, that a knife and a suwa (needle) were allegedly recovered from the inmates. But the bench found no support for this claim in the footage.
“Even if that was so, hitting the inmates with a danda, especially when they had dispersed and had returned to their cells, was unnecessary as none of the inmates were armed when they came out from their respective cells,” the court observed. The judges reiterated that the CCTV footage showed no threat from the inmates on the second occasion, making the use of violence “totally unnecessary.”
Warden’s Apology and Caution
Facing the bench’s sharp observations, the warden and expressed regret. The court accepted the apology but issued a clear caution: “He has also been cautioned that in future, if such a conduct is repeated, the Court would not hesitate in taking stern action against such unnecessary use of violence.”
Medical Directions for Appellant
Separately, the court noted that the appellant, Ashish alias Vicky, did not have sufficient finances for surgery related to a fracture. It directed that he be examined by the jail’s medical officer and, if further treatment is needed, it be provided at a government hospital. The appellant’s counsel submitted that he would surrender the same day.
The matter is now listed for further hearing on .
