FW: Laws may be amended to speed up jail reforms: Patil
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Priti Bhardwaj
Apr 28, 2008, 1:02:30 AM4/28/08
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Laws may be amended to speed up jail
reforms: Patil
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?clid=2&id=227931&usrsess=1
Statesman News Service
NEW DELHI, April 25: The government will amend certain laws and the concerned directive principle of state policy to expedite prison reforms as recommended by Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPRD), the Union home minister, Mr Shivraj Patil, said today.
“It (Directive Principles) is an important chapter, which needs a lot of discussion. It has to be amended to bring prison reforms from the state list to the concurrent list,” Mr Patil said while inaugurating an all India conference of ministers, secretaries and directors/ inspectors general in charge of prisons on prison reforms.
Expressing his concern over the huge number of inmates lodged in prisons in the country, the minister said, “We are in a country which has overcrowded prisons. Though the number of prisons has not increased, the number of laws have increased. That is why it is necessary to take steps to increase the capacity. Minimum amenities should be provided to the prisoners.” Mr Patil also asked state governments not to build more prisons in a hurried manner to solve the present crisis of overcrowding. “Rather the states should build prisons to cope with future problems,” he said.
Assuring sufficient funds for the purpose, Mr Patil said, “There should be determination to use those funds and the planning, which required to use those funds. We do not lack funds.” Highlighting the importance of using new technologies in prison administration, he called for taking help of experts and professionals in this area, including that of NGOs involved in correctional and reformation activities.
On police lock ups which are in bad shape, the minister said, “Model police stations have to be prepared. We are in the process of improving model police lock-ups. Some of the lock-ups do not have proper sanitary facilities.”
Highlighting the need for improvement in bail procedure, Mr Patil said the law should be such that it does not create problems for the accused, police and the judiciary. The conference deliberated on several issues related to prison reforms including the draft policy on prison reforms, existing statutes relating to prisons and the necessary legal reforms, prison infrastructure, correctional administration, security and discipline in prisons, service conditions of prison personnel, and the like.
Statesman News Service
NEW DELHI, April 25: The government will amend certain laws and the concerned directive principle of state policy to expedite prison reforms as recommended by Bureau of Police Research & Development (BPRD), the Union home minister, Mr Shivraj Patil, said today.
“It (Directive Principles) is an important chapter, which needs a lot of discussion. It has to be amended to bring prison reforms from the state list to the concurrent list,” Mr Patil said while inaugurating an all India conference of ministers, secretaries and directors/ inspectors general in charge of prisons on prison reforms.
Expressing his concern over the huge number of inmates lodged in prisons in the country, the minister said, “We are in a country which has overcrowded prisons. Though the number of prisons has not increased, the number of laws have increased. That is why it is necessary to take steps to increase the capacity. Minimum amenities should be provided to the prisoners.” Mr Patil also asked state governments not to build more prisons in a hurried manner to solve the present crisis of overcrowding. “Rather the states should build prisons to cope with future problems,” he said.
Assuring sufficient funds for the purpose, Mr Patil said, “There should be determination to use those funds and the planning, which required to use those funds. We do not lack funds.” Highlighting the importance of using new technologies in prison administration, he called for taking help of experts and professionals in this area, including that of NGOs involved in correctional and reformation activities.
On police lock ups which are in bad shape, the minister said, “Model police stations have to be prepared. We are in the process of improving model police lock-ups. Some of the lock-ups do not have proper sanitary facilities.”
Highlighting the need for improvement in bail procedure, Mr Patil said the law should be such that it does not create problems for the accused, police and the judiciary. The conference deliberated on several issues related to prison reforms including the draft policy on prison reforms, existing statutes relating to prisons and the necessary legal reforms, prison infrastructure, correctional administration, security and discipline in prisons, service conditions of prison personnel, and the like.
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