MHA asks states to implement jail reforms

New Delhi: The Union home ministry, in an advisory to the state governments and Union Territories, suggested that they should implement prison reforms adopted by the 5th National Conference of heads of prisons of states and UTs.

The 5th National Conference of head of prisons of states and UTs on prison reforms was held at New Delhi on September 29-30, 2016. After detailed deliberations on various aspects of prison administration, some important resolutions were adopted for guidance and implementation by states and UT prison authorities.

Since prisons as well as law and order are state subjects the final decision has to be taken by the respective state governments and Centre can merely send an advisory on the issue.

Some of the suggestions proposed by the home minister for effective functioning of the prison administration system include changing the nomenclature of prisons department to prisons and correctional administration, which should have integrated prison, correctional and probation services.

It has also been suggested that every state should establish a welfare wing under prison department comprising welfare officers, law officers, counsellors and probation officers.

All prisons should be linked with courts through video conferencing for expeditious trial and to save costs in escorting undertrials to the courts. The home ministry said vacancies in all ranks of prison departments should be filled up expeditiously.