MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) High Court Chief Justice Sadagat Hussain Raja on Thursday took strong exception to the delay in execution of the second phase of Central JailMuzaffarabad building and directed the authorities concerned to take concrete measures to address this issue on a priority basis.

He gave this direction during a visit to the capital`s main prison, situated some eight kilometres from Muzaffarabad in Rara village along MuzaffarabadKohala Road.

He was accompanied by the district and sessions judge, senior civil judge, registrar of the high court, special secretary home/ex-officio inspector general prisons and several other officials.

The chief justice learnt that as many as 190 prisoners had been lodged in the existing building against its capacity of 100 inmates because of the delay in construction of an additional building under the second phase ofthe project.

He directed the executive engineer of the Physical Planning and Housing (PPH) department, who was present on the occasion, to serve a notice on the contractor concerned for the delay and inform the court within one week about the proceedings under rules against him.

`The ground-breaking of the second phase must be performed at the earliest possible time... and if the contractor is unwilling to take up this project, he should be replaced in accordance with the rules, but within the shortest possible time,` he said.

The chief justice asked his staff to convey to the PPH chief engineer and superintending engineer to visit him in his chamber on Friday for a detailed briefing on the building issue.

Earlier, the chief justice went round the jail premises, including the barracks for male and female prisoners, judicial lockup, kitchen and dispensary, during which he spoke to many prisoners individually about the issues facing them.

He directed the district health officer to ensure availability of necessary medicines and other equipment in the jail dispensaryto provide adequate medical facilities to the inmates.

The health department should hold medical camps twice a month in the prison for thorough examination of prisoners to arrest the chances of spread of life threatening or contagious diseases among them, he said.

`The prison manual regarding the health of inmates and other facilities should be strictly implemented and the food provided to the prisoners should also meet their nutritional needs,` he said.

As some prisoners had also handed over written applications to the CJ with regard to their cases, he directed the jail administration to take steps to provide them redress from the competent forums.

TheCJ asked the special secretary home to arrange a detailed briefing for him on the affairs of central jail on November 28. Tariq Naqash