Delhi HC extends benefit of Natasha Narwal order to Devangana Kalita; allows access to headphones during legal interview, books in Tihar

The Delhi High Court today directed that the benefit of the order passed in the petition preferred by Natasha Narwal regarding privacy shall be extended to Devangana Kalita as well (Devangana Kalita v. Superintendent, Central Jail 6 Tihar, NCT of Delhi & Anr)..Accordingly, the Court has directed that Kalita shall also have access to headphones, share screen facility during video conferencing with her lawyer, and access to books..Headphones to be provided to Natsha Narwal during video conference with lawyer, outsourced books allowed: Delhi HC disposes of plea.Two weekly legal interviews of 30 minutes may also be allowed as far as possible, subject to adjustments, the Court held..Pinjra Tod members Narwal and Kalita are in judicial custody at Tihar Jail in connection with the Delhi riots cases..The order was passed by a Single Judge Bench of Justice Vibhu Bakhru. .Last month, the Court had issued notice in Kalita's petition seeking a direction to the Tihar Jail authorities to allow her access to her counsel by way of video conferencing..Delhi HC issues notice in Pinjra Tod Members Devangana Kalita, Natsha Narwal's pleas seeking access to lawyer through video conferencing.A similar petition was preferred by a Narwal, which came up for hearing before a Bench of Justice C Hari Shankar. .While this petition remained pending, Tihar Jail Authorties filed a status report in Narwal's plea claiming that video conferencing with private counsel had been allowed in Jail No 6 where the two Pinjra Tod members are kept. .After some additional requests with regard to maintenance of privacy during legal interviews and access to all kinds of books were not objected to by the jail authorities, Narwal's petition was disposed of. .Since a similar affidavit was filed by Tihar Jail in Kalita's petition, counsel for Kalita submitted that they would be satisfied if Kalita's petition is disposed of in terms of the order passed in Narwal's case. .Counsel for Kalita thus prayed for headphones and facility to share documents online during virtual interview, access to books, and two legal interviews of at least 30 minutes per week. .Counsel for state/Tihar Jail stated that he had no objection to the prayers..The Court thus ordered, ."In view of the above, this Court considers it apposite to dispose of the present petition in view the status report filed by the respondents with a further direction that insofar as other issues as noticed in this order are concerned, the benefit of the order dated 30.06.2020 passed in W.P.(CRL.) 942/2020 would be extended to the petitioner as well. It is so directed."Delhi High Court.Advocates Adit S Pujari, Chaitanya Sundriyal, Tusharika Mattoo, and Kunal Negi appeared for Kalita. .Advocate Chaitanya Gosain appeared for the Respondent. .Read the Order: