PRISONS IN INDIA

PRISONS IN INDIA

Why in news : Recently, President Murmu in Constitution Day speech focused on prison conditions and on prisoners of India.

PRESIDENT MURMU REMARKS :

• As the individuals are unaware of their fundamental rights, they are held in prison for long periods for minor offences.
• Due to their families poor financial condition, they are unable to bail them out.
• She also remarked to judiciary, executive and legislature to work together to help these individuals out.
• She also claimed, “How can we claim our nation progressing if we are still constructing prisons to address the overcrowding issues of prisons ?”.

According to PRISON STATISTICS REPORT :

• There are more than 4.2 lakhs prisoners in the country.
• India has the highest number of prisoners in the world.
• The prisons are facing the problem of over crowding at the rate of 115%.
• Overcrowding is highest in the states of Uttar Pradesh followed by Chattisgarh and Delhi.
• Majority of the prisoners are under-trials i.e. 68%.

ISSUES WITH THE INDIA’S PRISONERS :

• Prisons in India are still governed by the Prisons Act, 1894, a colonial legislation which treats prisoners as sub-par citizens.
• This law provides for punishment to be retributive rather than rehabilitative.
• These laws are also highly casteist, and remain largely unchanged since they were drafted by the Britishers.
• Due to inadequate capacities of prisons, the prisoners are facing the issue of overcrowding of the resources and basic facilities.
• Large number of cases pending in the courts.
• Poor physical and mental health of the prisoners.

STEPS TAKEN BY THE GOVERNMENT :

1. According to NEW PRISON MANUAL (2016) :
   • There will be appointment of jail visiting advocates.
   • Setting up of legal aid clinics, legal and literacy classes.
2. Modernisation of Prisons Scheme :
   Construction of new jails to address the issue of overcrowding.
3. Renovation of old jails.
4. E-Prisons project
5. Draft National Policy on Prison Reforms.

WAY FORWARD :

According to MULLA committee recommendations :

• Setting up of NATIONAL PRISON COMMISSION.
• Segragation of undertrial prisoners from hardened criminals.
• Focussing on skill development of the inmates.
• Encouraging on OPEN JAILS.
• Training and capacity building of the prison staff.
• Unified Prison Management System.
• Swift disposal of pending cases.

Syllabus : Prelims + Mains; GS2 – Governance