Jaipur: The Rajasthan High Court Thursday expressed concerns regarding prison security across the state, following the murder of Chambal dacoit Jagan Gurjar, who was allegedly strangled by a fellow inmate at a high-security jail in Ajmer on June 29.A division bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma and Justice Manish Sharma, ordered the state govt to provide a detailed report on the incident and the overall security infrastructure in state prisons. These directives were made during the hearing of a case concerning jail security and administration, which included threats issued from state jails to CM Bhajan Lal Sharma in the past few years.Amicus curiae Prateek Kasliwal highlighted that Gurjar’s murder within one of Rajasthan’s most secure facilities uncovered significant deficiencies in the state’s prison security and surveillance systems. He pointed out to the court that there was a lack of effective live monitoring and backup facilities for CCTV cameras, stating that “significant gaps in the surveillance infrastructure continue to compromise prison security.”The bench also raised alarm over reports of mobile phones being used within prisons. The court remarked, “Threats were issued even to the CM from prisons, then how can a common man think of his safety?” This statement referenced a history of threats to the CM from different jails, including incidents reported in Jan and July 2024 and Feb 2025, where inmates made threats by calling the police control room.The high court directed the state govt to file a detailed report regarding the actions taken in connection with Gurjar’s murder. Additionally, it sought a comprehensive status report on the availability, functioning, and monitoring of CCTV surveillance systems in Rajasthan’s prisons, as well as measures implemented to prevent the use of mobile phones among inmates. The matter is scheduled for further hearing on July 28.
