Mainstream WeeklyOn April 17, 2025, authorities at Chenchalguda Central Prison in Hyderabad pasted two notices at the entrance of the jail complex: one outlining new Mulakat (Visitation) rules and the other a circular memo titled Jud-3/153/2025. These notices may have appeared routine administrative instructions to some, but for the families, lawyers, and civil rights workers seeking to meet undertrial prisoners inside, they signalled a tightening noose around one of the most fundamental human rights- the right to connection with their family and friends, legal support, and humane treatment during incarceration.
These rules, particularly Rules 1, 7, 8, and 9 of the Mulakat guidelines and Clauses iii and vi of the circular memo, represent not just a bureaucratic overreach but a direct challenge to constitutional guarantees under Articles 14, 21, and 22 of the Indian Constitution.
Rules for Mulakat (Visitation) issued by the Superintendent, Chenchalguda Central Prison (17 April 2025): Rule 1,7,8,9.
1. Aadhaar card is mandatory for all visitors to complete the registration process (as per the guidelines of the Ministry of Home Affairs, New Delhi).
7. Released offenders, ex-convicts, or former prisoners are not permitted to visit current inmates.
8. In the case of habitual offenders and high-security prisoners, only their family members and lawyers are permitted to visit.
9. Lawyers wishing to meet a prisoner must carry a valid identity card issued by the Bar Council. They must complete the registration process and undergo security checks before being allowed to meet the prisoner.
Circular Memo Jud-3/153/2025 dated 17-04-2025: