"Denied medical check up, food as per religious belief": Satyendar Jain moves special court against Tihar jail

Jailed Delhi cabinet minister Satyendar Jain moved a special court accusing the Tihar jail authorities of not providing him basic food items as per his religious belief and also denying him medical check-up. .Jain, who has been in jail since May this year in connection with a money laundering case, claimed that he is on a religious fast, being a strict adherent of Jainism and, therefore, cannot consume cooked food or pulses.He submitted that he has been surviving only on raw fruits, vegetables and dry-fruits - a diet which was also prescribed by doctors for him to sustain. However, for the last 12 days, the jail authorities have stopped providing these items, it was contended.The plea further stated that the jail authorities have disallowed him to undergo an MRI Scan, which was slated for October 21 and it has been due since then. All this, he claimed has breached his fundamental rights. "The jail authorities are functionaries of State and as such cannot take away the right to life and health-physical or mental as envisaged under Article 21 of the Constitution of India. I am denied the most basic facilities such as medical check-up, a decent died as per the religious belief and a dignified life while undergoing trial," the plea said..In his plea, Jain claimed to be on a religious fast since he cannot eat cooked food without visiting a Jain temple due to his arrest. Interestingly, he claimed that he lost around 28 kilograms in the last six months and two kilograms in the previous week from when the supply of his food items was stopped.".... this is clearly indicative of my debilitating health status. It is my most basic human right to have food to survive. The said stoppage of food item during the religious fast is illegal, arbitrary and amounts to harassment of Applicant within the Jail premises," the plea stated..The plea emphasised the fact that Jain is an under-trial prisoner and such cannot be made to starve or relinquish his religious beliefs and be denied basic medical condition. "The restriction on liberty imposed by law does not take away right to life, health and dignity enshrined under the Constitution of India and that he is entitled to basic human rights behind bars. Should any medical mishap concerning my health would occur the Jail Authorities would be solely responsible for the same," the plea added.