Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Feb 27: Castigating the authorities for not finalizing the revised Jail manual and conducting disability audit of jails, the High Court today granted one more opportunity for doing the same and called Under Secretary of Home department before the Court on next date to seek his explanation on delay.
The Division Bench of Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice D S Thakur while hearing the petition on providing facilities to the jail inmates across the J&K said the matter has been repeatedly adjourned at the request of Government counsel to the effect that the new Jail Manual was at the stage of finalization and only formal approval had to be recorded.
Today when the matter was taken up for further consideration and Government counsel was asked about the finalization of jail manual he has sought some more time to place it on record.
While granting the time, Court directed for personal appearance of Under Secretary of Home department to remain present in order to explain his position on the issue.
Court has also expressed its serious concern over the approach of authorities on disability audit of jails and said as in other parts of the country, it is essential to have a disability audit undertaken of the jails in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir as well as Union Territory of Ladakh.
In compliance of earlier directions of the Court, Member Secretary of Legal Services Authority has submitted its report before the Court indicating the facilities provided to the prisoners in compliance of Supreme Court directions which includes special facilities for pregnant women prisoners; women prisoners and children who are lodged in jails; education and recreation for children who are staying in jails with their mothers and follow up of the plight of the families of the prisoners.
Member Secretary of LSA has been further directed to ensure monitoring of cases of prisoners and also ensure legal aid be provided to those who are required the same for defending their cases. When asked whether there is facility of telecommunication available in jails, the Government counsel informed the court the said facility is available in jails situated in Jammu division and for providing the same in Kashmir, Director General Prisons have been asked to ensure the said facility be made available in Jails of Kashmir.
The Director General (Prisons) has been directed to also undertake an exercise of ensuring that disability audit of all prisons is undertaken and steps taken to ensure that no difficulty is faced by any prisoner on account of disability or age.
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