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How the ‘anda cell’ is used to discipline prison inmates https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/how-the-anda-cell-is-used-to-discipline-prison-inmates/   October 28, 2021
Jinee Lokaneeta writes: Although it does not exist in prison manuals, it’s a well-known element of Indian jails.

The news that eminent journalist and human rights activist and scholar implicated in the Bhima Koregaon case, Gautam Navlakha, has been moved to an “anda” circle in Taloja jail on October 12 is just another reminder that imprisonment itself appears inadequate for the state. Instead, there is a constant need to continually break the body and soul of a person by making the conditions more challenging. It is unclear whether the “anda cell” is authorised by prison manuals. At times, the arbitrariness of these actions suggest that these are the discretionary actions of “petty sovereigns”

In the Sunil Batra case, the Supreme Court wrote: “If the prisoner breaks down because of mental torture, psychic pressure or physical infliction beyond the licit limits of lawful imprisonment, the prison administration shall be liable for the excess.” The question, however, is how long can the “anda cell” and lack of basic rights be considered within the limits of lawful imprisonment?

 

 

https://www.theleaflet.in/can-neither-walk-write-or-eat-talojia-jail-has-brought-to-this-situation-fr-stan-swamy-tells-hc/

https://www.theleaflet.in/prisoners-entitled-to-their-medical-report-under-article-21-also-entitled-to-phone-call-to-approved-family-members-after-hospital-visit-bombay-hc/

https://thewire.in/rights/the-indomitable-spirit-of-father-stan-swamy

 

Mere association with Dawood Ibrahim will not amount to terror gang membership under UAPA: Bombay High Court https://www.barandbench.com/news/mere-association-dawood-ibrahim-not-uapa-offence-terror-gang-membership-bombay-high-court The Court explained that UAPA has different provisions on the activities of an individual and the activities of a terrorist gang or terrorist organisation. Text of judgement : https://www.livelaw.in/pdf_upload/parvez-vaid-vs-state-of-maharashtra-550689.pdf In order to attract the provisions of Section 20 of UAPA, which has prescribed punishment for being a member of terrorist gang or an organisation, it is necessary to refer to the concept of terrorist gang/terrorist organization which has been assigned a definite connotation in Section 2(l) and 2(m) to the following effect: 2(l) “terrorist gang” means any association, other than terrorist organisation, whether systematic or otherwise, which is concerned with, or involved in, terrorist act; 2(m) “terrorist organisation” means an organisation listed in the Schedule or an organisation operating under the same name as an organisation so listed; The bench of Justice Bharati Dangre and Justice Manjusha Deshpande noted Section 20 UAPA and Section 164 CrPC statements that referred Parvez Vaid as a Member of D-gang and observed, “it would not attract the offence u/s.20, as by the amendment in Schedule IV, Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar, has been declared as a terrorist in individual capacity, and therefore, any association with him on the pretext that a person belongs to D-gang/Dawood gang will not attract the provisions of Section 20.” - https://www.verdictum.in/court-updates/high-courts/bombay-high-court-parvez-zubair-vaid-v-the-state-of-maharashtra-2024bhc-as28377-db-section-20-uapa-d-gang-terrorist-individual-capacity-dawood-ibrahim-1544722