Contempt notice on Yerawada jail superintendent

The Bombay high court on Friday issued a notice of contempt of court against the superintendent of the Yerawada central prison in Pune. It issued the notice as the superintendent did not transfer a life convict suffering from cancer to Mumbai for better treatment despite a court order to that effect.

The prisoner, Shalini Yadav, who was sentenced to life imprisonment for committing murder, has completed nine years in jail. She had moved the court earlier, stating that she suffered from cancer of the uterus and wanted to be treated at a good hospital. The court granted her temporary bail till March 31, and Yadav took treatment at a private hospital in her hometown of Nashik.

Yadav then moved the court once again, seeking an extension of her parole. She said that there were no facilities in Pune for cancer treatment. On May 6, the court directed the prison authorities to transfer her to Byculla jail and, if required, to admit her to the Tata Hospital in Mumbai. However, the prison authorities did not transfer her in the last three months, said Indrayani Koparkar, Yadav’s lawyer.

“It is six months since she filed her application. Should she not receive treatment just because she is a prisoner?” asked justice AM Khanwilkar. The court noted that it was “appalled by the attitude” of the superintendent. The superintendent has been directed to remain present for the next hearing on September 13.