Ahmedabad, Nov 20: The Gujarat High Court today instructed the state government to file an affidavit by Monday about the facts related to the transfer of ex-Sabarmati Central Jail Superintendent, Sanjeev Bhatt that had led to a mass hunger strike by majority of 3000 prison inmates on Tuesday and alleged suicide bid by eight. In its reply to the appeal filed by the protesting inmates, the single bench of Justice C K Buch instructed government pleader Arun Oza to file an affidavit regarding Bhatt's performance, his "reform" methods initiated during tenure as jail Superintendent and facts that led to the hunger strike by the inmates. Talking to a news agency, Oza said the government had enough facts to prove that Bhatt's immediate transfer was necessary following reports of his "extra leniency towards hardcore prisoners and flouting jail rules". "We have enough facts to prove that his transfer was required due to his behaviour in the jail and the flak he received after his mis-conduct with a Pota judge earlier this month", Oza said.


The jail inmates on hunger strike had filed an appeal before the High Court yesterday. Bureau Report