Professor Saibaba, a Delhi University faculty with 90% disability, had been arrested and put behind bars in a solitary confinement without basic facilities for his alleged links with the Naxals. An online petition asked the Chief Justice of India (CJI) to take action by ordering a judicial inquiry and releasing Saibaba on interim bail. BH also requests honorable court to grant him bail. – Editor
Petition @ Change.org
Chief Justice of India: Release Dr. Saibaba on Bail and Order a Judicial Investigation
Professor Saibaba was on his way to work when his car was forced to the side of the road by a Santro car carrying 5-6 plainclothes policemen. The plainclothes men blindfolded, roughed up and forced his driver into the Santro, and took professor Saibaba away in his own car. His family was not even informed of his arrest or shown any document justifying his arrest.
Dr. GN Saibaba is a respected professor, suffering from 90% disability. He was arrested and put behind bars for alleged links with the Naxals. He is being denied medication and is not even been given a proper toilet that he can use.
But the injustice does not stop there. He has been denied bail inspite of his disability and not being a flight risk.
There has been a blatant abuse of power and miscarriage of justice in this case. Join me in asking The Chief Justice of India to take action by ordering a judicial inquiry and releasing Saibaba on interim bail.
Dr. Saibaba is being kept in a highly unsanitary, solitary cell, in darkness and with inadequate facilities in Nagpur Jail. He is experiencing great indignity since it is impossible for him to use the Indian style toilet provided in his cell. He is being denied medication and I am apprehensive that he may collapse in custody.
The Magistrate could have granted bail to Saibaba under the Provision of Section 437 of the CrPC which clearly states that the court can direct a person to “be released on bail if such person is under the age of sixteen years or is a woman or is sick or infirm”. Saibaba is clearly not a flight risk but he was not released on bail.
There is a dire need for a more compassionate criminal justice system that will encourage the participation of the people in proving their innocence. There is also an urgent need to level the playing field. Such an intervention can come only from a Superior Court. Sign my petition and join me in asking The Chief Justice of India to take action by ordering a judicial inquiry and releasing Saibaba on interim bail.
By Karen Gabriel
New Delhi
