PUCL UP - Letter to Chief Justice of Allahabad High Court
By PUCL Uttar Pradesh
Subject: Urgent medical intervention for undertrial prisoner Vishal Singh (Case No. RC-01/2023/NIA/LKW)
We wish to draw your attention to the severe medical condition of an undertrial prisoner named Vishal Singh, a native of Mathura who was arrested from his Delhi residence on June 22, 2025, in connection with case number RC-01/2023/NIA/LKW and subsequently lodged in the Lucknow Jail. People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) Uttar Pradesh came across a report published on the news portal “Maktoob Media” on August 4, stating that the condition of Vishal Singh was extremely critical and was not improving despite the treatment provided at the jail hospital. According to the report, during his imprisonment, his eyesight deteriorated so rapidly that when his partner visited him on July 22, 2026, he could not recognize her even from a distance of one foot. His blood pressure consistently remained above 200 and recently, part of his face went numb, as he developed severe swelling in his face and legs. He was unable to walk on his own even to the bathroom and suffered from excruciating headaches and vomiting. When his lawyer cited his physical condition and requested permission for advanced medical treatment outside, the NIA court of Lucknow ordered that his treatment to continue within the jail hospital itself.
- PUCL Uttar Pradesh reached out to the State Human Rights Commission (Case No. 17881/24/48/2026) regarding his health and they issued a notice to the Superintendent District Jail on the 14th of August asking them to submit a report on or before 22nd October, 2026.
- Coincidentally they shifted him to the Balrampur Hospital on the same day as the SHRC issued the notice. Since then he has been under the observation of the said hospital where he has to go through dialysis as his kidneys have stopped functioning adequately.
- What remains a matter of concern is that the hospital is not supplying copies of the medical reports to Vishal’s partner who has been visiting him at the hospital. Apart from that, his partner states that he also suffers from severe migraine attacks and fluctuating blood pressure which has made his condition even more worrying.
- While courts adjudicate on the charges against an individual, every person’s life must be safeguarded while in custody. Article 21 of the Constitution of India guarantees the right to life to everyone, including those in prison; providing adequate medical treatment to an incarcerated prisoner is essential to upholding this right.
- Hence, we would like to put forth our prayer to your honour to kindly pass any order, direction, or relief to transfer Vishal Singh to SGPGI in Lucknow so that he could get the specialised treatment he desperately needs.
Farman Ahmad Naqvi Sr. Adv., National Vice President, PUCL
Adv. Thakur Das Bhasker, President, PUCL UP
Adv. Seema Srivastava/Azad, National Secretary, PUCL
Chittajit Mitra, General Secretary, PUCL UP