In a stinging indictment of prison security lapses, the Bombay High Court at Goa has said it “shocks the conscience” that mobile phones and even mobile charging points were found inside the Central Jail at Colvale in North Goa, allegedly without the knowledge or consent of prison authorities. The court expressed grave concern over the ease with which inmates are able to access prohibited items and warned that superficial inspections and lack of accountability are undermining the criminal justice system.

The strong observations were made by Justice Shreeram V. Shirsat while hearing a petition connected to Chandu Patil, an undertrial prisoner accused of murdering a child. During the proceedings, it was brought to the court’s notice that Patil had allegedly made phone calls from inside the jail to the victim’s family, issuing veiled threats. This revelation prompted the court to examine the broader issue of mobile phone smuggling and contraband inside jail premises.

In a detailed order, the court noted that the presence of mobile phones inside prisons is not an isolated incident but part of a recurring and deeply troubling pattern. Justice Shirsat observed that despite earlier instances where mobile phones and drugs were recovered from inmates, the jail administration appears to have failed to take concrete, effective steps to prevent a repeat of such breaches.

“What shocks the conscience of this Court is that mobile charging points are installed in several jail cells,” the judge remarked, questioning how such infrastructure could exist inside a high-security prison without raising alarms. “It is not obscure as to why the charging points are installed there,” the order added, hinting at systemic lapses or possible collusion.

The High Court underlined that merely taking action against an individual inmate found in possession of a mobile phone or contraband does not address the root of the problem. According to the court, such an approach only treats the symptoms while ignoring the deeper issues of lax inspections, poor enforcement of rules, and absence of accountability among prison staff.

“Some swift, comprehensive, remedial and stringent measures are required to be taken by the jail authorities to ensure that such incidents do not occur in future,” Justice Shirsat said, stressing that the situation demanded urgent intervention rather than piecemeal responses.

A major concern flagged by the court was the apparent absence of a signal jamming system inside the jail. Proceeding on the assumption that no such system was currently installed, the court directed the prison authorities to immediately address this gap. Justice Shirsat ordered that a robust phone jammer or cellular inspection system be installed “forthwith,” with the clear caveat that its operation must be strictly restricted to jail premises so that residents in the surrounding areas are not affected.

The court questioned how mobile phones could be smuggled in so easily despite regular inspections at entry points. Raising uncomfortable but necessary questions, Justice Shirsat asked whether the inspections were merely “superficial and just an eye wash” or whether there was “deliberate slack inspection” at the checking counters that allowed prohibited items to enter the jail seamlessly.

Such repeated security breaches, the court said, cannot be brushed aside as isolated lapses. “Some accountability must be fixed,” Justice Shirsat stressed, pointing out that incidents of phone and contraband recovery were happening at regular intervals. The judge warned that failure to identify and penalise responsible personnel only emboldens inmates and perpetuates a culture of impunity within the prison system.

In the specific case of Chandu Patil, the court made it clear that issuing a mere show-cause notice would be wholly inadequate. It directed the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation by examining call data records (CDRs), CCTV footage, and cell tower locations corresponding to the relevant dates and times when the alleged calls were made. Such an exercise, the court said, was essential to establish how the phone entered the jail, who facilitated its use, and whether any prison staff were complicit.

“The soft punishment for such activities emboldens the jail inmates,” Justice Shirsat observed, adding that lax disciplinary action sends the wrong message and undermines prison discipline. The court emphasised that stringent measures were the “need of the hour” to restore credibility and security within the prison system.

Beyond jammers, the High Court issued a series of detailed directions aimed at tightening security and ensuring transparency. It ordered that CCTV cameras be installed at inspection counters during the entry of inmates, if not already in place. The personal search of inmates entering the jail must be conducted strictly under CCTV surveillance, the court said, leaving no room for ambiguity or manipulation.

The court also mandated CCTV coverage in Mulaqat (meeting) areas, recognising that such spaces can often become conduits for the transfer of prohibited items. Additionally, daily inspections of jail cells were ordered to ensure that no unauthorised items, including phones or charging equipment, remain undetected.

In an effort to create a reliable audit trail, the High Court directed that daily CCTV footage be preserved in a pen drive and submitted to the Deputy Superintendent of Police. The footage must be kept in safe custody, ensuring that it can be reviewed whenever allegations of misconduct or security breaches arise.

Significantly, the court also directed the framing of additional rules to fix accountability on prison personnel found violating inspection norms at checking counters. This move underscores the court’s view that institutional reform, rather than ad hoc action, is essential to prevent recurrence of such incidents.

The order has sought a detailed reply from the jail administration by January 20, 2026, requiring officials to explain how such glaring lapses occurred and what concrete steps are being taken to rectify them. The High Court made it clear that it expects seriousness and urgency from the authorities, given the implications for public safety, victims’ rights, and the integrity of the criminal justice process.

Justice Shirsat’s observations reflect growing judicial concern across the country over the misuse of mobile phones inside prisons. Courts have repeatedly flagged how inmates use phones to intimidate witnesses, threaten victims’ families, run criminal networks, and even coordinate serious offences from behind bars. The Colvale jail case, with its revelation of charging points inside cells, has only intensified these concerns.

By calling the situation “shocking to the conscience” and ordering sweeping remedial measures, the Bombay High Court at Goa has sent a clear signal that tolerance for such lapses is at an end. Whether the directions translate into meaningful reform will depend on how earnestly the jail administration responds—and whether accountability is finally enforced where it has long been missing.