Present scenario inside jails and cases of Covid-19 positive inmates highlighted in 13th HPC meeting
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 28 2021:
The 13th meeting of the High Powered Committee (HPC) was held through video conferencing on July 26 chaired by Justice Kh Nobin Singh, Executive Chairman of Manipur State Legal Services Authority (MASLSA) to examine the present scenario inside the jails and cases of Covid-19 positive inmates and other problems.
P Doungel, Director General of Police (Prisons), Manipur, Ojesh Mutum, Member Secretary of MASLSA, H Gyan Prakash, Special Secretary (Home), Govt of Manipur, Dr Th Charanjeet Singh, Deputy Secretary (Home), Govt of Manipur and Sorokhaibam Sadananda, Deputy Member Secretary of MASLSA attended the said meeting, said a press release by MASLSA.
It may be noted that in pursuance of the direction of the Supreme Court, the High Powered Committee constituted to oversee the release of prisoners on bail/ parole as a measure to avoid congestion/overcrowding in jails in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic have earlier held 12 (twelve) meetings.
The Committee discussed in detail the present situation at Manipur Central Jail Sajiwa as well as Manipur Central Jail Imphal with regard to the capacity & occupancy of the prisoners as well as cases of covid-19 positive prisoners inside the prisons.
The Committee also discussed about the cases of UTPs and convicts who were earlier released on interim bail and parole on the recommendation of the High Powered Committee.
The status with regard to the preparation of standard operating procedure (SOP) for video conferencing/video calling between the prisoners and advocates and family members as resolved in the 11th HPC meeting was also discussed.
The DG (Prisons) informed that facility for video conferencing with Advocates and family members is provided to the prisoners as and when desired by the prisoners or Advocate/family members.
The meeting also considered about the status for constitution of Under Trial Review Committee (UTRCs) for the districts of Ukhrul/Kakching/Jiribam/Kamjong/Tengnoupal/Kangpokpi/Noney/Pherzawl districts.
The Special Secretary (Home) placed before the Committee that steps for reconstitution of Under Trial Review Committee (UTRCs) for all the districts is under active process and the order will be issued within few days.
After, due deliberations, key resolutions were taken in the meeting regarding the extension of interim bail period and period of parole for certain UTPs and convicts.
Further it resolved that Jail Authority to prepare and notify a standard SOP/ guidelines for video conferencing between the prisoners and Advocates and family members for convenience of all the concerned, on priority basis and the State Home Department to expedite the constitution/reconstitution of Under Trial Review Committee (UTRCs) for Ukhrul/ Kakching/ Jiribam/ Kamjong/ Tengnoupal/ Kangpokpi/ Noney/ Pherzawl districts within 15 days, in compliance with the directions of Supreme Court.