Orissa HC Awards ₹20 Lakh Compensation, Rules Custodial Deaths Due to Negligence a Constitutional Violation

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The Orissa High Court has ordered ₹20 lakh in compensation to the wife of an undertrial prisoner who died in custody due to medical negligence. In its ruling, the court emphasized that the right to health is an integral part of the right to life, as guaranteed by Article 21 of the Indian Constitution. The court's judgment was delivered in a case where the undertrial prisoner, a chronic diabetic, was denied proper medical treatment despite the jail authorities being aware of his condition. The prisoner's health deteriorated significantly, prompting his wife to seek intervention from the judicial magistrate. The court noted that the jail authorities failed to provide adequate medical care, and only took action after the wife's intervention. By the time the prisoner was transferred to a district hospital for better treatment, his condition had already deteriorated severely. He died the following day while undergoing treatment. The high court's ruling is a significant victory for the wife of the deceased, who had sought ₹50 lakh in compensation for the loss of her husband. The court's emphasis on the importance of providing adequate medical care to prisoners highlights the need for greater accountability in custodial deaths due to negligence. The Orissa High Court's judgment serves as a stern warning to prison authorities to take the health and well-being of prisoners seriously, and to ensure that they receive proper medical treatment in a timely manner. The court's ruling is a step towards upholding the constitutional rights of prisoners and holding those responsible for custodial deaths accountable for their actions.