The Delhi High Court recently instructed the jail authorities to ensure proper medical care and necessary equipment for Yasin Malik, a jailed terrorist associated with the Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF).

The bench of Justice Jasmeet Singh held, “The respondent shall ensure that adequate medical treatment and facilities are provided inside the jail to the petitioner and are continued to be provided as per the jail procedures”. 

A writ petition was filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India, seeking a direction to the jail authorities to produce Yasin Malik’s medical treatment records. The petition aimed to enable appropriate orders for his referral to a suitable medical institution, such as AIIMS or any other super-specialty hospital in New Delhi or Srinagar, Kashmir.

Advocate Md. Irshad Harif, appearing for Yasin Malik, informed the court that Malik had been on a hunger strike since November 1, 2024, while in custody, and his health had significantly deteriorated, necessitating urgent medical treatment and hospitalization.

Considering the submissions, the court directed the Superintendent of Jail to obtain Malik's medical status report and ensure that necessary medical treatment was provided in accordance with the Delhi Prison Rules, 2018.

In the subsequent hearing, the court instructed the jail authorities to ensure adequate medical treatment and facilities were made available to Malik on-site. The matter was then scheduled for further hearing on November 18, 2024.

Earlier, in February 2024, the Delhi High Court was assured by the central government that it would ensure all required medical treatment for Yasin Malik while in custody. As a result, the court disposed of Malik's petition, in which he had sought directions for his transfer to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for treatment of his cardiac and kidney ailments.