For representational purpose.
Morung Express news
Kohima | May 21
No prisoner under trial in the State has so far been released after the High Powered Committee (HPC) constituted by the State Government reviewed decongestion issues on May 13 observing that there is no over-crowding of jails in Nagaland.
While the issue of decongestion of prisons among others in view of the pandemic was brought last year, Nagaland state released 109 Under Trial Prisoners (UTPs) on parole out of 537 prisoners. Out of 10 district jails (except Longleng district) including Central Jail, Dimapur, jails, as a whole had the capacity to accommodate 1,450 prisoners.
According to latest data, only 429 prisoners lodged in different jails were identified, which is a decrease by over a hundred this year.
The HPC constituted by the State Government last year in view of the COVID-19 outbreak met on April 13 through video conferencing.
“As per reports received from the Prison Department and District Judicial officials, there is no over-crowding of jails in Nagaland since the district Under Trial Review Committee (UTRC) are meeting regularly and implementing the HPC resolutions passed on April 1, 2020,” the Committee said after a recent meeting.
Vaccination of inmates
While observing the existing COVID-19 situation in jails, vaccination of inmates on priority basis was discussed. The ADG (Prisons) had written to the State Government in late April for administering vaccines to the prisoners.
“Prisoners should be given priority as they are living in a confined environment and though segregation is enforced, the virus may spread very fast in the jails once any of the inmates is infected,” the HPC was informed.
“Universal vaccination should be made available and age differentiation or criteria should not apply for the prisoners. In the event of preventive measures not being taken and the inmates and prisoners not being vaccinated, infection of the prisoners with the virus will put more strain on the medical infrastructures of the State,” it was added.
In this line, the Principal Secretaries for Home and H&FW were asked to take up the issue on priority. Further, it was informed that jail staffs among others should be vaccinated at the earliest.
Mandatory COVID testing of all arrested persons before being forwarded to courts for either police or judicial custody; strict adherence to COVID SOPs; regular testing of Covid-19 for both prisoners and prison staff were also stressed on.
Medical facilities in place
While reviewing medical facilities, it was informed that a dedicated Medical Officer is posted at Central Jail Dimapur while for other district jails, Medical Officers and staff are available only on-call. The committee urged the Health Department to ensure availability of medical facilities in all jails.
The HPC also entrusted the Principal Secretary (Home) and Additional DG (Prison) to ensure hygienic environment in jails, and resolved that District & Session Judges or Chief Judicial Magistrates shall visit jails every fortnight and submit reports to the HPC.
While there had been concerns with regard to transportation of released prisoners last year, the HPC directed concerned jail authorities to tie up with District Police for transportation of UTPs released during lockdown. “The concerned District Police will facilitate and provide all possible assistance sought by the jail authority for transportation of inmates/ UTPs released during lockdown or curfew period,” the HPC noted.
The High Court Registry, Kohima meanwhile informed that facilities to produce UTPs virtually was not in place as funding for network connectivity for e-Committee was not possible. The HPC therefore entrusted the Principal Secretary, Home to take this up with the State Government to find ways to fund the project which would connect the jails through video conferencing.
