A. K. PATNAIK, C. J.

( 1 ) THIS is a Public Interest Litigation filed by the petitioner complaining of violation of the fundamental rights of the prisoners lodged in the jails of madhya Pradesh.

( 2 ) THE petitioner has alleged in the writ petition that as against the capacity of the jails in Madhya Pradesh to accommodate 15,000 prisoners, there are more than 33,000 prisoners in the jails of Madhya pradesh and this amounts to violation of fundamental rights of the prisoners and in particular their right to personal liberty and life under Article 21 of the Constitution. The petitioner has also alleged in the writ petition that convicts who have been lodged in the jail have to put in labour but they are being paid a sum of Rs. 1. 00 per day which is much less than the minimum wages fixed under the Minimum Wages Act and this is being done in violation of Article 23 of the constitution which prohibits beggar and other similar forms of forced labour. The petitioner has prayed that the respondents be directed to build up additional number of jails to accommodate the prisoners in the next ten years and to pay wages as prescribed under the Minimum Wages Act to the convicts.

( 3 ) A return

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