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SC expresses serious concern on the issue of overcrowding in prisons

Team SoOLEGAL 27 Feb 2018 4:35am

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SC expresses serious concern on the issue of overcrowding in prisons

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has directed National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) to provide it details of all the jails which have occupancy  of over 150 per cent. The order comes two years after the Court had directed the States and union territories to reduce overcrowding in jails and expedite  the release of undertrial prisoners, who form the bulk of inmates across each jail.

During the process of hearing of  PIL on the matter, the bench of Justices Madan B Lokur, Kurian Joseph and Deepak Gupta was informed by amicus curiae Gaurav Agarwal that nothing has changed on the ground despite SC's order. Going through the report, the bench asked NALSA Director Surinder S Rathi to find out about the situation of overcrowding in district and central jails through the member secretaries of each State legal service authority.

The bench asked NALSA Director to furnish jail-wise population with focus on prisons with over 150 per cent occupancy. On February 5, 2016, the SC in its  order on overcrowding of prisons had stated that in Central jails, there are 1,84,386 prisoners as compared to the capacity of 1,52,312. Situation in district jails was worse with they holding 1,79,695 prisoners against a capacity of 1,35,439. The Court also asked him to look into the issue of rehabilitation and welfare of women prisoners and their children, including the aspect of their education before the next date of hearing on March 27.

The highest concentration of prisoners was in UT of Dadra and Nagar Haveli (331 per cent), followed by Chhattisgarh (259%) and then Delhi (221.6%). This prompted the Court to seek information about prison population from all jails.

The apex court will also deal with the responses of states and UTs to the Under Trial Review Committees (UTRCs) constituted by its February 2016 order. Such committees, one in each district, were to recommend the release of undertrial prisoners and convicts who have undergone the sentence or have failed to comply with surety or bail conditions. The UTRCs comprised District Judge, the Superintendent of Police and the District Magistrate.

 


             


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Tagged: SC   NALSA   Prison reforms  
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