Usage Of Best Practices Adopted Worldwide To Tackle Issue Of Overcrowding Of Jails: Orissa HC

BACKGROUND

• The High Court of Orissa was hearing a petition filed in the matter concerning overcrowding of jails in Orissa.
• The Division Bench comprising Chief Justice S. Muralidhar and Justice B.P. Routray showed concern on the matter and sought steps and replies from the jail and state authorities.
• The High Court emphasized upon the management of the prisons and advised to take inspiration from best practices around the world.

MEASURES SET OUT BY DEPUTY INSPECTOR GENERAL OF PRISONS

• In the affidavit submitted by the Deputy Inspector General of Prisons, they mentioned measures to tackle the issues of overcrowding in the jails of Orissa.
• He mentioned that there is an action plan for 2020-21 and 2021-22 that has been approved by the Government for the construction of additional wards in different jails of the State.
• The scheduled capacity of some of the jails will be upgraded to accommodate 2994 more prisoners.
• The new jail building of Special Sub-Jail, Bhadrak will be constructed on the proposed land with an enhanced capacity of 460.
• The DG of Prisons and the Advocate General also informed that a meeting will also be held among the Departments of Home, Prisons, Finance, and Office of the Public Prosecutor and all the important stakeholders and civil society groups to gather suggestions to tackle the situation.

OBSERVATIONS OF THE COURT

• The court observed that overcrowding of prisons is a cause of great concern and noted that a large number of prisons in Odisha have beyond 20% overcrowding and substantial numbers of prisons have 50% overcrowding.
• The court directed the DG of Prisons and the Advocate General to make an action plan in the upcoming meeting and inform the same to the court in the next hearing.
• The court emphasized that the best practices across the world should be examined and it should be seen that at to what extent they can be implemented.
• The court also commented on the issue of quarantine facilities for COVID positive prisoners in jail and it directed the Member, Odisha State Legal Services Authority to file an affidavit informing what steps have been taken for jail adalats.

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