Tihar jail deep into corrupt practices

Cases of corruption in the Tihar jail seem to be on the rise this year with statistics showing that at least 12 such cases were reported in the first seven months —  a 100% jump from last year.

Union minister of state for home affairs Mullapally Ramachandran informed the Lok Sabha that 12 cases of corruption and illegal activities have been reported so far this year as against last year’s figure
of six.

“The government of Delhi has intimated that the cases of corruption and illegal activities reported are dealt with departmentally,” Ramachandran said in a written reply to the Lower House.

He was replying to a question whether there were instances of rampant corruption, irregularities, mismanagement and extending extra facilities in violation of jail rules reported from the Tihar jail.

According to the statistics, there were seven such cases in 2008 while there were eight cases
in 2009.

Ramachandran said that the service records of all the staff have been scanned to single out persons of doubtful integrity.

It was emphasised on the superintendents to ensure the integrity and upright conduct of subordinate staff under the conduct rules and mount surveillance on those with doubtful integrity, he said.

“The staff is frequently rotated at all levels in different jails so that they do not develop vested interests on account of longer stay in any prison,” he added.