District and Sessions Judge conducts surprise inspection of Central Jail

Central Chronicle News
Bhilai, July 26: On Monday, District and Sessions Judge Rajesh Srivastava (Chairman, District Legal Services Authority) conducted surprise inspection of Durg Central Jail. He met the men and women prisoners, under-trial prisoners and convicted prisoners and got appraised with their problems. He questioned the jail officials about the issues raised by the prisoners. DJ inspected the arrangements made to prevent the infection of Covid-19, arrangement for medical examination of the new prisoners who enter the jail, etc. During the inspection, a divyang convicted prisoner Omprakash, Ramkishan requested the District and Sessions Judge to get him an artificial leg. DJ immediately directed the Jail Superintendent for appropriate action. Another prisoner Ramnarayan is a resident of Kawardha and has requested for transfer to Kawardha Jail. DJ Srivastava directed the Jail Superintendent to consider the request. He questioned whether the prisoners have been provided masks; whether social distancing is being maintained; and whether the prisoners are being vaccinated as per the rules of the government.
During the inspection of the Central Jail, the belongings of the prisoners were checked. Any objectionable item or drug related item was not found. The quality of the food items provided to the prisoners was checked. DJ found that the quantity of pulses was lesser and there is a provision to give 150 grams of pulses to each person. In this regard, it was directed to increase the quantity of pulses. The food provided to the prisoners was found satisfactory. The cleanliness of the barracks of the prisoners was inspected. There was a lack of cleanliness at many places.
During the inspection, information was obtained regarding such prisoners who can be released on remission under 432(2) of CrPC. The jail administration was directed to send information to the Authority along with the reasons for the pendency of the applications of such prisoners who can be given the benefit of remission. In relation to the release of prisoners on remission, the pilot project is to be started from August 01, 2021, in which the benefit of remission is to be provided to the convicted prisoners within a fixed period of time.
The prisoners were informed that the cases of under-trials are being heard through video conferencing during the Covid transition period. The jail administration was directed that the prisoners who are to be produced must be kept present before the court through video conferencing.
District and Sessions Judge Rajesh Srivastava was accompanied by SP Prashant Agrawal, CJM Santosh Thakur, DLSA Secretary Rahul Sharma. DJ chaired a meeting with the Jail Officials and apprised them about deficiencies and irregularities found in the inspection. He directed them to take immediate action and instructed them to ensure the health and other security arrangements of the prisoners. The jail administration was instructed to pay special attention to cleanliness in the jail. There are a total of 5 minor children in the women’s jail, who are under the protection of the female prisoner. It was directed to take all necessary action to take special care of the education and health of those children.