KATHMANDU, Aug 11: The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued mandamus order to the government to provide ample food ration and other allowances to prisoners.

Issuing its final verdict on a petition filed by notorious international criminal Charles Sobhraj, who has been serving jail terms in Nepal after being convicted in murder cases, the apex court ordered the government to provide ample food ration to jailbirds.

Sobhraj had filed the petition at the apex court claiming that the food ration and allowances provided by the government to jailbirds were inadequate. The government has been providing 700 grams of rice and Rs 45 per day per prisoner.

Giving the verdict, a division bench of justices Ananda Mohan Bhattarai and Anil Kumar Sinha stated that it is the duty of the government to protect the human rights of every individual, including the jailbirds. The bench also reminded the government that the constitution has guaranteed right to life and right to food as fundamental rights.