Delhi Prisons Department finds 'initial oversight' after Yasin Malik appears in SC; orders investigatio
New Delhi, July 22: In the wake of the physical appearance of imprisoned JKLF chief Yasin Malik in the Supreme Court on Friday, the Delhi Prisons Department has acknowledged an "initial oversight" on the part of some officials and has initiated an investigation.
A prison official stated that Deputy Inspector General (Prisons-Headquarters) Rajiv Singh will conduct the inquiry to ascertain the lapse, identify the responsible officials, and submit a comprehensive report to the Director General (Prisons) within three days.
“Today, Yasin Malik was physically presented in the Supreme Court by the officials of Delhi's Tihar Central Jail no. 7, and it was observed that there was an initial oversight on the part of the concerned jail officials,” the prison official stated.
The issue has drawn criticism, prompting Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to write a letter to Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, raising concerns about Malik's security.
Yasin Malik, currently serving a life sentence in Tihar Jail after being convicted in a terror funding case, was brought before the top court for a hearing on a CBI plea against a Jammu court order.
Mehta expressed serious concerns over the security lapse, stating that it raised apprehensions about the possibility of Malik escaping, being forcefully taken away, or even facing harm. He stressed, “Given Mr. Yasin Malik's terrorist and secessionist background, as a convict in a terror funding case with known connections to terror organizations in Pakistan, the situation could have led to an escape, abduction, or even his death.”
In his letter to Bhalla, Mehta emphasized that even the security of the Supreme Court would have been at serious risk had any untoward incident occurred.
“The jail authorities had no power to take him out of the jail premises, nor did they have any reason to do so as long as the order under section 268 of CrP Code subsisted," the SG said.
Mehta further pointed out that this issue required immediate attention to ensure suitable action and preventive measures are taken.
The letter referred to an order passed by the Ministry of Home Affairs concerning Yasin Malik under section 268 of the Criminal Code of Procedure, which explicitly restricts jail authorities from moving the convict out of the jail premises for security reasons.
“The news of jail authorities personally bringing Yasin Malik to appear before the Supreme Court at his own request left everyone shocked,” Mehta stated.
The letter also highlighted that the SG had already informed the Home Secretary about this matter over the phone, but by that time, Yasin Malik had already reached the precincts of the Supreme Court of India.
The court had not summoned him personally, nor had any permission been granted by any authority of the Supreme Court of India for his appearance.
"When I inquired from the officer in charge of Mr. Yasin Malik's security in the Supreme Court, he could only present me with a printed notice in the general format of the Supreme Court, which is sent to every party involved in any matter before the Court. The said printed notice merely informs the recipients to appear before the Court either in person or through an authorized Advocate," SG explained.
