Furnish details on jails with 150% occupancy: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Monday directed the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) to look into the issue of overcrowded prisons and sought information on jails where occupancy is over 150 per cent, as on December 31, 2017.

The SC also asked the amicus curiae in the matter to look into rehabilitation and welfare of women prisoners, their children, especially with regards to their education. 

A three-judge bench, headed by Justice Madan B Lokur, and comprising of Justices Kurian Joseph and Deepak Gupta was hearing the matter. 

“For the time being, we request Surinder Rathi, Director, NALSA to look into the issue of overcrowding as highlighted by the amicus and furnish figures of the population in the jails where occupancy is more than 150 per cent as on December 31, 2017,” the Bench said. 

Further, it asked NALSA Director Surinder S Rathi to provide details on vacant posts in major prisons across states and Union territories. 

The apex court issued directions while hearing a matter relating to the poor conditions prevailing in 1,382 prisons in the country and had earlier expressed shock on the inhuman treatment of people languishing in jails, in violation of their rights. Last September, the Supreme Court had also slammed custodial deaths and said it was a crime which indicated the disdain of state on life and liberty of prisoners. 

Plight Of Prisons

SC directions came while hearing on the poor conditions prevailing in 1,382 prisons in the country. It had earlier expressed shock on the inhuman treatment in jails