Jail ADGP recommendation for Pillai to use phone

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Contrary to the general impression about the controversial use of mobile phone by jailed former minister R Balakrishna Pillai, the undue haste shown by Jail Additional DGP Alexander Jacob in changing his stance on the issue on the eve of the ascension of the UDF Government has raised many an eyebrow. While issuing an order on May 16, the ADGP had directed the superintendent of the Central Prison here, from where Pillai had gone on emergency parole at that time, to ensure that considering media reports and complaints that he was using a mobile phone in the cell, it should not be allowed to be brought again.But as if on an after - thought, on May 18, Alexander Jacob himself wrote to the Additional Chief Secretary to give ‘special permission’ to Pillai to use his phone inside the prison ‘in relaxation of the rules in force’ as a ‘special case.’In the letter, it has been admitted that use of mobile phones inside the jail is prohibited as per Prison Act 2010. In a lamenting way , the ADGP even says that though the coin box facility was available in the Central prison, Pillai was not willing to use that facility ‘due to security reasons.’ Jail authorities were also eager to cite grave health issues plaguing Pillai, eventually strengthening his shifting to a private specialist hospital.The timing of the letter was noticeable as it came at a time when a change of government in the state was on the cards. The allegation that Pillai’s wishes were heeded without fail by the new government, even without taking a written request, buttresses the Opposition’s campaign that he had been shifted to the hospital, circumventing rules, to avoid his stay in the Central Prison. That Pillai has free access to all sorts of facilities from his hospital bed fuels the charge.