A Supreme Court lawyer yesterday served a legal notice on the government, asking it to appoint 120 doctors at 68 jail hospitals across the country within seven days, to provide treatment to inmates.

Advocate Md JR Khan Rabin served the notice on secretaries to the ministries of law, home affairs, health and social welfare, and public administration; director general of Directorate of Health Services and inspector general of prisons -- asking them to take steps for appointment of doctors in the vacant posts.

In the legal notice, the lawyer said only nine doctors are providing treatment to around 89,000 inmates in 68 jail hospitals across the country --- while 120 posts are vacant.

“Treatment to inmates is being hampered due to shortage of doctors in jails,” the lawyer also said in the notice.

Advocate Rabin said that he will move a writ petition before the HC next, seeking necessary orders on the respondents if they do not appoint doctors within seven days.