The Supreme Court in the case Sukash Chandrashekhar v. UoI And Anr observed and has refused to entertain the writ plea which is filed against alleged conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar and wife Leena Paulose wherein seeking extension in the visitation time is being allotted by jail authorities to meet family, friends and legal representatives.
The bench comprising of Justice Ajay Rastogi and Justice Bela M Trivedi in the case observed and has noted that the accused were not in a position to seek such ‘privileges’ and to make such extraordinary demands.
The counsel appearing n behalf of the two accused persons apprised the Bench that as per the prison rules, his client is being provided with the facilities for seeing and communicating with family members, the relatives, friends and legal advisors. Thus, it has also been submitted by him that they are allowed the said facility only for 30 minutes, twice a week. He in the case also seeks extension of the said time period citing his difficulty. He submitted that there are 28 cases which are pending against the accused across the country for which more than 10 lawyers who have been engaged, and the visitation time allotted as per the jail rules is not sufficient.
Further, it was also argued by him before the court that the same infringes upon the right to legal representation envisaged as stated under Article 22(1) of the Constitution of India.
Therefore, the bench in the case took exception to the submission that accused persons can make such extraordinary demands. Thus, the bench headed by Justice Rastogi told the Counsel for giving the list of the lawyers and this court will ask the jail authorities and keep them in the prison itself. Thus, let the lawyers stay with him inside rather than going in order to meet him every day.
It has also been directed by the Supreme Court to shift Sukesh and his wife Leena Paulose to Mandoli Jail from Tihari Jail, after the duo complained of harassment and intimidation from Tihar jail officials. However, the court turned down his plea to shift him to a jail outside Delhi-NCR.
Accordingly, the court dismissed another petition filed by him seeking transfer from Mandoli to a jail outside Delhi-NCR.
