Brief Facts : Dr Teltumbde and Mr Gonsalves were arrested in relation to Bhima Koregao violence. Mr Teltumbde wrote an article for Caravan in March 2021 and since then the Prison Superintendent has imposed a ban on the accused and has withheld their letters/ communications addressed to their families and advocates. Their families made representation to the SP and the Special Inspector General but no response has been received. Hence they have filed these petitions.
Summary : In the petition it has been contended that the Prison superintendent has misinterpreted the article written in Caravan. Rules 17 and 20 provide for the subjects on which prisoners may communicate. It included personal matters and excludes any matter likely to become the subject of political propaganda or any criticisms on the administration of the prison or any reference to other persons confined in prison. The case of petitioners is that due to misinterpretation of the article which was not related to any political propaganda this ban has been placed on the accused. NIA has not received a copy of the pleading so the court directed the petitioners to serve a copy to them.
