RE-INHUMAN CONDITIONS IN 1382 PRISONS Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Learned amicus curiae has submitted a Note for today's hearing. He has briefly taken us through the Note and highlighted a few issues. They are as follows:

(2.) It has also been pointed out that there are serious deficiencies in the training of jail officers/staff. It appears that over the last many years hardly about 7800 staff has been given some kind of training, mostly refresher training. This is an unhappy state of affairs considering the fact that the number of staff is in the region of about 50,000.

(3.) It has also been pointed out by learned amicus curiae that there is a great discrepancy between the expenses that are incurred on inmates, particularly for the year 2015-2016. For example, in the State of Bihar, the average expenditure per inmate is Rs. 83,691 per annum while in the State of Rajasthan, it is about Rs. 3,000/- per annum. Similarly, in Nagaland, it is in the region of about Rs. 65,468/- while in Punjab, it is about Rs. 16,669/-. There is a huge discrepancy in this regard which needs to be looked into. It may also perhaps be necessary to have the accounts audited to ascertain whether the money is being spent wisely and whether it is being utilized for the benefit of the prisoners or not.