JUDGMENT :

Satyabrata Sinha, J.

The Prisoners of Sub Jail, Kakinada have submitted a representation dated 10.1.1996 to the Honourable the Chief Justice of High Court. Their grievance is that they are being locked up for 24 hours in a day due to which they are mentally depressed, that there is acute shortage of water in the jail, that the food supplied to them is of sub-standard quality, that the authorities of the Jail are failing to provide them medical assistance due to improper functioning of the escort staff. They alleged that the Magistrate at III Court is giving judgments without conducting the trial and arguments and awarding punishments more than stipulated and that he is acting as the Police informant. They prayed that necessary action may be initiated in the matter.

2. The aforementioned letter is treated as public interest litigation and marked as taken up writ petition No.12502 of 1996 and notices were served on the respondents.

3. Responding to the notice, a counter affidavit has been filed on behalf of the respondents, affirmed by the third respondent, the Superintendent, Sub-Jail, Kakinada wherein all allegations made in the petition are denied and it is stated that all steps have been taken to comply with the provisions of the Jail Manual.

4. As regards providing basic amenities like supply of food, water etc., we direct the District and Sessions Judge, East Godavari to make surprise inspections of the Sub Jail as also other jails from time to time. In the event it is found that the jail authorities are not conforming with the provisions of the jail Manual or the decisions of the Supreme Court or violating the human rights or the conditions of the prison, the learned Judge may submit a report/reports immediately to this Court which shall be considered on top priority on their own merit.

5. Subject to the aforementioned directions, the writ petition is disposed of. There shall be no order as to costs.