The Rajasthan High Court has directed the Jodhpur Central Jail administration to continue providing special medical and support facilities to self-styled godman Asaram, including alkaline water, outside food, separate bedding and medical assistance.
The order was passed by a single bench of Justice Sanjeev Prakash Purohit while hearing a criminal writ petition filed on Asaram’s behalf. The court disposed of the plea after observing that a prisoner’s medical needs and age-related concerns do not end simply because their appeal has been decided.
“The age and health needs of a prisoner do not cease to exist merely because the appeal against him has been disposed of,” the court said. It added that facilities earlier granted by the Supreme Court and High Court should continue to ensure protection of his medical needs and human rights.
Jail Had Withdrawn Facilities After Surrender
The direction comes days after the Jodhpur Central Jail administration reportedly withdrew several facilities following Asaram’s surrender on May 28 after his interim bail was cancelled.
Asaram’s lawyers, advocates R.S. Saluja and Yashpal Singh Rajpurohit, argued before the court that despite no improvement in his health condition, many facilities earlier approved by courts had been stopped.
Medical records presented in court stated that the 85-year-old convict suffers from multiple health conditions, including severe heart disease, diabetes, kidney complications, osteoporosis, muscle weakness and other chronic illnesses.
Court Allows Outside Food, Alkaline Water and Medical Access
The High Court ordered that the arrangement allowing food from private sources should continue. While one outside meal had already been permitted earlier, the court said alkaline water could also continue to be supplied under conditions fixed in previous court orders.
The court further directed that two assistants should continue helping Asaram in jail. However, it rejected his request to appoint assistants of his own choice and said the jail administration would decide suitable and willing persons for the role.
The bench also refused permanent permission for a private ambulance but instructed authorities to ensure an appropriate ambulance is available during any medical emergency.
Additionally, private physician Dr. Sachit Bhola has been allowed to meet Asaram inside jail once every 15 days.
The court clarified that all medical facilities and permissions granted by courts in the past would continue to remain in force.
High Court Recently Upheld Life Sentence
The order comes shortly after a division bench of the Rajasthan High Court upheld Asaram’s life sentence in a 2013 sexual assault case involving a minor student at his Jodhpur ashram.
The bench of Justices Arun Monga and Yogendra Kumar Purohit had dismissed his appeal and cancelled his interim bail, directing him to surrender immediately.
While upholding the conviction, the court remarked that although prison walls can confine the accused, they cannot contain the lifelong trauma suffered by the survivor.
In the same ruling, the court acquitted co-accused Shilpi, a hostel warden, and Sharat Chandra, director of the Gurukul, saying there was insufficient evidence to establish their involvement in any criminal conspiracy.
Background of the Case
The case dates back to August 2013, when allegations surfaced that a minor student was sexually assaulted inside a hut at Asaram’s Jodhpur ashram. In 2018, a trial court convicted him and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
Following the High Court’s latest verdict, Asaram returned to Jodhpur Central Jail to continue serving his sentence.
