Bombay High Court orders study to set up model prison

Mumbai: The Bombay high court has asked the state government to conduct a scientific study on jail infrastructure in order to set up a model prison along the lines of jails in developed countries.

A division bench of Justice Abhay Oka and Justice Anuja Prabhudesai was hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by lawyer Sheikh Ibrahim Abdul of Pune and Jan Adalat, an NGO, regarding “poor living conditions in prisons” and sought directions to tackle the problem. “How many undertrials are lodged in the jails Maharashtra now? What will be the requirement in future? Has the state government applied its mind on all these issues? What facilities will be required?” the court asked.

“The government will have to conduct an exercise and ascertain what are the requirements of a model jail in the lines of jails in developed countries. The state can take help of some retired senior police official or some expert from Tata Institute of Social Science (TISS),” the court said.  The court pointed out that the Arthur Road prison and Byculla prison are currently filled with undertrials beyond capacity. “At Arthur Road and Byculla there is no space for development also. You (government) cannot go vertical,” the bench said.

It further said the government would have to see in the next decade how many jails will be required and in what pattern. “In the past, the concept of high risk prisoners was not there. But now several such prisoners are lodged at the Arthur Road jail. Similarly it needs to be seen what the future requirement will be,” Justice Oka said. The court has posted the petition for further hearing on January 23.

Crowded jails:

• Jails like Arthur-Road jail and Byculla are overcrowded.
• Lack of bathrooms for ladies prisoners in Byculla jail.
• Poor food quality.
• The place where the accused and lawyer meet isn’t adequate. For instance, the distance between prisoners and their lawyers is great, impeding their privacy.