Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI:: The Prisons Department has informed the High Court of Bombay at Goa that the mere presence of electrical points inside Colvale Central Jail cannot automatically be treated as evidence of deliberate facilitation of illegal mobile phone use.
In a detailed affidavit filed before the court, Superintendent of Prisons Sucheta Dessai stated that although electrical points exist at certain locations inside the jail, their presence by itself does not establish institutional complicity or intentional support for unauthorised mobile usage, unless such allegations are proven through proper inquiry and reliable evidence.
The department, however, made it clear that it was not attempting to minimise the concern raised by the High Court. On the contrary, it described the issue as a significant systemic vulnerability and said that immediate corrective measures had already been initiated to eliminate any scope for misuse, regardless of how or when the electrical points were originally installed.
The affidavit was submitted following sharp observations by the High Court on January 8, after it emerged that an undertrial accused in the murder of a 12-year-old boy had allegedly managed to place a threatening phone call from within Colvale Jail.
Assuring the court of accountability, the Prisons Department said that responsibility, if established, would be fixed strictly in accordance with law and due process. It stressed that no official—past or present—would be spared scrutiny if evidence so warranted, and that institutional discipline and prison security would not be compromised.
Terming the court’s observations as a “red flag,” the department said it had ordered a comprehensive internal audit. Directions have been issued for a complete audit of all electrical points in inmate-accessible areas, with instructions to remove, disable or secure any point found to be unnecessary or capable of misuse.
Dessai further informed the court that the department has undertaken a 100 per cent physical verification of electrical points within a 15-day timeframe. Based on technical reports from electrical and executive engineers, non-essential points will be sealed or removed, and structural changes will be carried out wherever required to prevent recurrence. A compliance report, certified by technical personnel, will be submitted thereafter.
Reiterating its position, the affidavit stated that all actions taken would be evidence-based, legally sound and in conformity with the Goa Prisons Rules, 2021.
Earlier, the Bench of Justice Shriram Sirsat had directed the Deputy Superintendent of Prisons to file a detailed status report by January 20 on long-pending security upgrades, including the installation of mobile jammers, strengthening of CCTV surveillance, deployment of cellular inspection systems and tighter controls to prevent the smuggling of mobile phones, chargers and other contraband.
