Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Sept 19: High Court today observed that various jails across the State are overcrowded and directed the authorities to create more jails or be liberal for bails.
After going through the reports of State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) and Director General Prisons, Division Bench of Chief Justice Badar Durrez Ahmad and Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey observed these reports depict glaring situation of overcrowding in various jails in Kashmir as well as in Jammu.
The information provided by these authorities also varies so far as some jails are concerned. Court directed both the authorities to find out the deficiencies and report the court a fresh.
It is mentioned in the reports that there are 146 inmates in district jail Anantnag while as intake capacity is only 64. In Amphala jail of Jammu division 398 is intake capacity while as present roll of inmates is 559. In Udhampur district jail there are 238 inmates while as its intake capacity is 234.
Court observed that these jails in Jammu can be regulated by shifting some inmates in Central Jail Kotbalwal as there are 75 against the intake capacity of 409.
Court directed the authorities to cross check their reports as there is variation and once the jail is overcrowded, court observed the authorities have to seek remedy. “You have to manage it. Create more jails or be liberal for bails”, CJ observed.
The SLSA and Director General prisons were earlier directed to file their status report by indicating therein in capacity of jails with break-up of convicts, under-trials, women as also those who have been imprisoned under PSA and their period of imprisonment in jails.
DG prisons was directed to inform the Court the number of persons who are brought to jails every month and released every month so that the input and output capacity of jails be known.
Court today observed that SLSA will have to work on conditions and other facilities are provided to jail inmates. The SLSA counsel submitted before the Court that a comprehensive report be filed in this connection by next date.
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