Jaipur: The Supreme Court Thursday cleared the way for the construction of a 300-bedded satellite hospital on the land of Sanganer Open Jail. It also discharged the state chief secretary from contempt proceedings. The court issued this order while accepting suggestions made by the apex court’s registrar, who visited the open jail premises and surrounding area some months ago.The project, located in chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma’s constituency, will proceed under strict guidelines ensuring that inmates receive new housing, educational facilities, and recreational spaces before any existing structures are demolished. The bench, comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice Augustine Masih, passed the order while hearing a contempt petition by Prasun Goswami, who alleged that the state govt has reduced the area of the open-air prison by reallocating land for the hospital’s construction, in violation of the Supreme Court’s order of April 17, 2024. Solicitor general Tushar Mehta and additional advocate general Shiv Mangal Sharma appeared on behalf of the state. “We have taken a considered decision to accept all recommendations made by the registrar. The new structures for inmates would be constructed across the entire relocated and enhanced area and only thereafter would the existing jail buildings be vacated. The hospital construction would commence in a phased manner without affecting the current living conditions of the inmates,” Sharma assured the court.The Supreme Court, in its order on Nov 25, 2024, directed its registrar to conduct a site inspection and submit a feasibility report on the proposed relocation. The case arose after the state govt, in compliance with earlier directions of the court, proposed enhancing the area for relocating the Sanganer Open Air Jail by an additional 14,940 sq m, in addition to the existing 17,800 sq m already allotted.TOI obtained a copy of the report submitted by the registrar, which affirmed the relocation of prisoners’ quarters, school and playground. He recommended that both the existing area of 17,800 sq m and the additional area of 14,940 sq m should be used in full for constructing new jail structures and that the remaining land of 22,232 sq m may be used for the proposed hospital.Taking note of the state’s submission, the Supreme Court directed the Rajasthan govt to file an affidavit of undertaking, binding itself to the registrar’s recommendations for both the open-air jail and the hospital project.
