Mandya: A day after a surprise inspection at Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS), authorities have been instructed to establish a dedicated jail ward for treating undertrial prisoners, following concerns raised over the existing arrangements for their treatment and security.The inspection, conducted on Monday by a team from the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority (KSLSA) and Mandya District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), found an undertrial receiving treatment in a regular hospital room, highlighting the difficulties faced by the hospital and prison authorities in the absence of a dedicated jail ward.KSLSA member secretary Shashidhara Shetty, Mandya district sessions judge and DLSA president Chandrashekara C., KSLSA member Dr Mohan Rao Nalwade and DLSA member secretary Anand M were part of the inspection team. The team found Mahamad Hussain, an ADLR survey supervisor who is in judicial custody, undergoing treatment at MIMS since Aug 21. He was being treated in a separate room, where a woman was also present, according to a release.MIMS superintendent Dr Shivakumar said Hussain had been suffering from back pain and spinal cord-related problems and was kept under round-the-clock police security during his treatment. As his condition had improved, he was discharged following the inspection and taken back to Mandya District Prison, he said.The inspection team directed the hospital authorities to establish a separate jail ward at the earliest.
