HC questions legality of arbitrary imposition of handcuffs, bar fetters upon prisoners

FE REPORT

The High Court has questioned the legality of the government bodies' brutal attitudes to handcuffing and shackling the prisoners during their release on parole.

It has issued a rule upon the government bodies to explain as to why arbitrary and unreasonable imposition of the provisions of the Prisons Act and the Jail Code relating to the imposition of handcuffs and bar fetters upon the general prisoners should not be declared illegal.

Home Secretary, Law Secretary, Inspector General of Police, Inspector General of Prisons, Deputy Commissioners of Dhaka and Gazipur, Superintendent of Police Gazipur, Jailor of Kashimpur Central Jail and other respondents have been asked to comply with the rule within four weeks.

The High Court bench of Justice K M Kamrul Kader and Justice Mohammad Ali passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed in this regard.

In the rule the HC also wanted to know as to why the government should not be directed to form a high-powered committee for recommending appropriate guidelines relating to imposition of handcuffs and bar fetters upon the prisoners.

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