High court wants govt to learn lessons from custodial death of Pillai

The Delhi high court (HC) has pulled up government authorities for lack of facilities in jails across the country.

Justice S Muralidhar, while hearing a petition filed by Nina seeking compensation from the state for husband Rajan Pillai’s custodial death, said, “Every patient has freedom of choice for his treatment, whether it is in jail or outside. The lack of facilities in the jail is actually robbing the people’s freedom of choice.”

Singapore-based biscuit king Rajan Pillai died in custody nearly 15 years ago. The government says he died due to excessive drinking and improper medical treatment, not due to custodial torture as alleged.

Citing Leila Seth Commission’s report, counsel for Nina said Rajan died in jail because of wrong diagnosis by a doctor. According to the commission, Rajan failed to get proper medical back-up and his condition worsened.

“This is a wake-up call for public health services. This case is an eye-opener. Why can’t people have the best of health services?” the court said.

“Every person in this country is entitled to health services and government is accountable for this,” it said while seeking the state government’s reply on the issue. Rajan was arrested in New Delhi on July 3, 1995, in an extradition-related case. While in judicial custody at Tihar Jail, he was shifted to Deen Dayal Upadhyaya Hospital where he succumbed.