Hyderabad: Raising serious concerns over the handling of an alleged custodial torture case, Telangana high court questioned why the prisons department was “shying away from a probe instead of welcoming it, when not at fault” and sought detailed responses from the authorities regarding the death of an undertrial prisoner who allegedly died by suicide in jail.Justice T Madhavi Devi made the observations while hearing a petition filed by Varala Hima, a daily wage worker from Jangaon district, who alleged that her husband Varala Mallaiah was subjected to humiliation at Jangaon sub-jail before his death in 2025.According to the petition, Mallaiah, an undertrial prisoner, was allegedly forced to clean toilets and scrub prison floors, leading to severe humiliation and ultimately driving him to die by suicide. Hima has sought a comprehensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding her husband’s death and compensation of Rs 50 lakh, along with other consequential benefits, for the alleged violation of his human rights and Article 21 of the Constitution.Senior counsel V Raghunath, appearing for the petitioner, contended that although a magisterial inquiry was conducted after the alleged suicide, no notice was served on Hima, and she was kept unaware of the proceedings. “She is left alone with two small children, and she seeks justice from this court,” Raghunath submitted.Observing that Mallaiah was an undertrial and not a convict, the judge noted that the allegations of humiliation warranted closer scrutiny. “He should not have been forced to do such menial jobs. Why was there no inquiry from the prisons department?” the judge asked.The court further observed that while a magistrate’s inquiry may examine the cause of death and related circumstances, the allegations raised by the deceased’s wife also required independent consideration.“Let the IG, prisons, look into it. Why is there an objection, and what is the difficulty,” the judge remarked. In response, govt counsel informed the court that the police were also investigating the death and that a chargesheet would be filed upon completion of the probe.Referring to broader concerns about prison conditions, Justice Madhavi Devi observed, “Today one died, this should not happen with others. Does the magisterial inquiry say anything about the living conditions in the prison?”When the govt counsel suggested that the court could direct the DCP or the commissioner of police concerned to conduct the inquiry instead of the IG, prisons, the judge expressed strong reservations.“When you object too much, you should understand what it means,” the judge observed. The matter was adjourned, with the court directing the authorities to file counters and place all relevant reports on record before the next hearing.
