J'khand likely to replace British era prison manuals

The administrative work in the state's prisons is being carried out as per the British era Prisoners Act 1894 and Prisoners Act 1900. Naturally, prison officials have been finding it difficult to act in compliance with the complexities of the rules and changing form of crime. To address these issues, the state government is preparing a roadmap to revamp the jail manual. The Office of the Inspector General of Prisons has already sent a draft of the new jail manual to the home department.

Ranchi: In Jharkhand, prison manuals have not been changed in decades. The state is still following the prison manuals prepared during the British era. The administrative work in the state's prisons is being carried out as per the British era Prisoners Act 1894 and Prisoners Act 1900. Naturally, prison officials have been finding it difficult to act in compliance with the complexities of the rules and changing form of crime. To address these issues, the state government is preparing a roadmap to revamp the jail manual. The Office of the Inspector General of Prisons has already sent a draft of the new jail manual to the home department.

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Inspector General of Police, Prisons, Birendra Bhushan told ETV Bharat that with changing times, a change in the jail manual was necessary. Prison manuals of the British era had become outdated even as the dynamics of crime had changed. "The report has been sent to the home department. In all likelihood, the government will take a decision on this soon," he said.

Several questions have been raised in the past regarding prison manual violations. The high court, too, has reprimanded the state government and the jail management several times during the hearing of the PIL.

According to advocate Rajiv Kumar, there is a need to curb corruption inside the jail. "When changes are made in the prison manual, the mental counselling of the inmates will also have to be taken care of. Otherwise, crimes inside and outside jails will continue. Apart from this, the government will have to keep personnel in sync with the posts created in jails so that jail rules are followed and implemented.

J'khand likely to replace British era prison manuals

Social activist Pankaj Kumar Yadav said there have been many unethical and immoral acts in jails over the years but nothing has been done to prevent these acts. He said stricter provisions in prison manuals may help.

23 OUT OF 30 JAILS WITHOUT JAILERS

There is an acute shortage of jail personnel in the state. As many as 23 out of 30 jails are running without jailers. Not only this. For want of room keepers, their work is carried out by other staff members. Similarly, several jail superintendent posts, too, are vacant.