The Delhi High Court on Wednesday supported the decision of Tihar jail authorities to deny AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sandeep Pathak the right to meet Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal in prison, citing previous violations of prison rules by Pathak.
Justice Neena Bansal Krishna, ruling on the matter, highlighted that Pathak’s past actions, which included making politically charged statements post-visitation, were against the Delhi Prisons Rules, 2018. The court dismissed Pathak’s petition but granted him the option to reapply for visitation rights, which the jail superintendent will reconsider according to legal standards.
The jail had initially allowed Pathak to meet Kejriwal twice in April. However, following these meetings, Pathak’s comments to the media were deemed contrary to Rule 587 of the Delhi Prisons Rules, which restricts discussions with inmates to personal and domestic issues and explicitly prohibits political discourse.
The authorities argued that Pathak’s behavior and public statements were not only political but also potentially disruptive to the discipline and administration of the prison. The judge agreed, noting that Pathak acted more like a spokesperson than a visitor, using his platform to voice political opinions that could significantly influence public perception and the internal dynamics of the jail.
This ruling comes while Kejriwal is under judicial custody in connection with the alleged excise policy scam, adding a layer of complexity to the administration’s efforts to maintain order within the facility.
