The High Court of Bombay at Goa has disposed of a criminal bail petition after accepting the final compliance report submitted by the superintendent of Central Jail, Colvale, recording that the prison authorities had initiated adequate measures to strengthen surveillance and enforce discipline within the jail premises.
The Bench of Justice Neela Gokhale said the prison administration appeared to be seized with the gravity of the issue and was taking necessary action to address lapses in jail administration, reinforce surveillance and maintain discipline within the prison.
The court, through orders dated December 18, 2025, and February 10, 2026, had directed prison authorities to submit a compliance report detailing the measures taken to address lapses in jail management and improve accountability.
During the latest hearing on the bail plea by Chandu Patil, Additional Public Prosecutor Swati Kamat Wagh placed on record the final report dated April 20, submitted by the Superintendent of Prison, Central Jail, Colvale, Sucheta Dessai, who was present in person before the court.
After examining the report, the court noted that jail authorities had recommended several measures to ensure that prison security was not compromised and that discipline was maintained.
The order recorded that the prison administration has been in correspondence with other agencies and that proposals submitted by jail authorities are presently under consideration at different levels of the government. “It appears that the Prison Administration is taking steps to curb the illegal activities in the Prison,” the court observed.
At the same time, the High Court stressed that the proposals forwarded by jail authorities to the government required urgent consideration and timely decision-making.
The order further stated that decisions taken on these proposals must be enforced strictly by jail authorities and other departments to intensify surveillance and secure discipline within the prison.
Disposing of the matter, the Bench recorded assurance of jail authorities that they would continue to strictly enforce measures to curb illegalities inside prisons and pursue pending proposals with the government.
