Himachal High Court hauls up officials for hancuffing undertrial

Taking cognizance of keeping an undertrial handcuffed in a hospital, the Himachal Pradesh High Court has directed the chief secretary and the director general of police (DGP) to be present in the court May 6.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Mansoor Ahmad Mir and Justice Tarlok Chauhan Wednesday observed it was a violation of directions of the Supreme Court and this high court that handcuffing amounted to violation of the human rights.

High Court Registrar (judicial) K.S. Chandel visited the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital where he noticed the undertrial was bound with chains.

The high court took cognizance of the registrar's note accompanying photographs.

The court issued a show-cause notice to officiating Chief Secretary P. Mitra, DGP Sanjay Kumar, Superintendent of Police Sumedha Dwivedi and the policemen accompanying the accused.

The court also directed the DGP to initiate departmental inquiry against the erring policemen.