UTTARAKHAND HC CALLED THE CONTENTS OF AN AFFIDAVIT CONTAINING DETAILS OF PRISON CONDITIONS AS ABSOLUTELY VAGUE

6th March 2021

On 3rd March 2021, a division bench of Uttarakhand HC ordered the director-general of prisons to file a report on the physical condition of the jails, their reformative techniques to reform prisoners, the working strength of the department and a few more.

Given the order, the Inspector general recently filed an affidavit highlighting the inquiries. However, the Court called the contents ABSOLUTELY VAGUE.

The Court noted that the affidavit did not touch the highlights of various aspects.

• The affidavit failed to mention the exact nature and content of the facilities provided in different jails.
• The affidavit discloses CCTVs first phase are being installed, but it is unclear as to when and what is the first phase and also when the second phase would begin?
• The Court further noted that the affidavit discloses a Yojana under which inmates are provided reformative techniques such as stitching, carpentry, and gardening but failed to add details as to whether the yojana was being implemented in all jails across the state.
• Lastly, the affidavit stated that there was a grave problem of overcrowding across the state. The government has only sanctioned the construction of three new jails. The Court pointed out that the report is unclear on the point of when the jails were sanctioned and what is the current status of the jails.

DIRECTION

The Court directed the learned Inspector General of Prisons to submit a more detailed and clearer affidavit.

Author: Papiha Ghoshal

PC: Indiatimes