No home food for Darshan as HC stays trial court order

Bengaluru

The Karnataka High Court on Tuesday halted trial court directions that allowed home-cooked food to actor Darshan, Pavithra Gowda and other accused currently in judicial custody in the Renukaswamy murder case, underlining that no prisoner, regardless of identity or influence, can claim exemptions from the law.

Justice M. Nagaprasanna passed the interim stay while hearing a petition filed by the Superintendent of Prisons, who challenged two separate orders issued by the 57th Additional City Civil and Sessions Court in late December and mid-January. The High Court relied on Supreme Court observations that strongly discourage any form of preferential treatment to inmates.

The controversy began on December 29, when the trial court directed jail authorities to permit home-cooked food for accused Pavithra Gowda, R. Nagaraja and M. Lakshman, following oral submissions that the prison food was inadequate. Seeking clarity, prison officials approached the same court on January 5, citing Supreme Court remarks made while considering bail pleas in the case, warning against special facilities for select prisoners.

Despite this, the trial court on January 12 ordered that the accused and others in judicial custody be allowed home-prepared meals once a week and additionally on medical advice, without elaborating further. The order also cautioned prison officials of consequences in case of any lapse in implementation.

Opposing the trial court’s directions, Additional State Public Prosecutor B.N. Jagadeesha drew the High Court’s attention to a Supreme Court order that mandates suspension of jail superintendents if special treatment is extended to prisoners. He also informed the court that food supplied by prison authorities had been assessed by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India and awarded a four-star rating, indicating compliance with prescribed standards.