High Court orders welfare steps for jail inmates
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, August 07, 2013: Acting on a Public Interest Litigation (Pil) , the Manipur High Court has asked the jail authorities to implement a slew of measures for the welfare of prison inmates pertaining to safe drinking water, health care and video conferencing facilities.

Chief Justice Abhay Manohar Sapre and Justice N Kotiswar Singh issued the verdict on Tuesday after perusing an inspection report of the conditions of Manipur Central jails, Sajiwa and Imphal submitted by the District and Sessions Judge, Manipur East after his inspection on April 27 this year and also an affidavit filed before the Court.

The report has raised several issues concerning the hygiene/sanitation, cleanliness, health/medical, food and other infrastructural issues, the order said adding that the Principal Secretary (Home) J Suresh Babu was present and heard in person.

In respect of Sajiwa jail , the court directed the jail authorities to take immediate steps for providing safe drinking water to the inmates and a report in this regard may be submitted before the Court within two weeks.

On healthcare system, it asked to provide at least five male nurses/attandants to assist the doctors and others to deal with the male inmates in Sajiwa jail within two weeks.

Noticing that timely production of Under Trial (UT) prisoners lodged in the jails of the hill districts and at distant places before the Courts has been hampered because of lack of adequate security and provisions for transportation, the HC made its remedial views.

" This problem, in our view, could be largely addressed to if video conferencing facilities are provided in the jail premises and the respective Courts located in the hilly areas or far flung areas," said the Court.

"Accordingly, we direct the authorities to submit an action taken report in this regard within a period of one month for installation of video conferencing facilities in the jail premises and the concerned Courts," maintained the verdict.

Coming to the non-functioning of various sub-jails/ district jails located in various districts, the Court viewed that activating and operationalising these jails will help in proper dispensation of justice in these far flung areas.

Learning that jail building presently located in Churachandpur district can be operationalised, the Court also asked the State respondents to submit the detailed plans for its functioning, to begin with, within two months.

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