Patna High Court
By Neeraj Kumar
Patna: The Patna High Court on Thursday heard a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking implementation of the Model Prison Manual, 2016 in Bihar and directed the state authorities to complete the process within nine months.
The order was passed by a Division Bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Justice Sudhir Singh and Justice Rajesh Kumar Verma while hearing a petition filed by Abhinav Shandilya. During the proceedings, the court noted that the manual had been framed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs in accordance with the Supreme Court’s directions, with the objective of bringing a degree of uniformity in laws and rules governing prisons across the country.
Representing the state government, officials informed the court that a committee had convened several meetings on the matter and that the issue was currently under active consideration. Taking note of the submissions, the court disposed of the case with a clear timeline for implementation.
PMCH Child Death Case
In a separate matter, the Patna High Court sought a response from the Bihar government over the death of a young girl during treatment at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH). Hearing a PIL filed by Vinay Bhushan Prasad, the same Division Bench directed the state to file a counter-affidavit within four weeks.
Senior advocate Basant Kumar Chaudhary alleged serious lapses in PMCH’s functioning and negligence in medical treatment, claiming that the child’s death occurred due to doctors’ negligence. The court has fixed the matter for further hearing on February 2, 2026.
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