HC concerned over overcrowding in state’s jails

Cuttack: Expressing grave concern over “consistent” overcrowding in some prisons, particularly in Bhubaneswar special jail, the Orissa high court has observed that it would issue “appropriate orders” if there is no satisfactory progress in decongesting them by June 26.
The word of caution came on Friday after taking note of an affidavit filed by deputy inspector general (prisons) Gariba Sahu in pursuance of an order issued on May 3.The court was hearing a PIL on overcrowding and other problems in jails filed by one Krushna Prasad Sahoo in 2006.
In the affidavit, the DIG (prisons) stated that 20 of the 87 jails in the state are overcrowded. While three — Bhadrak and Jajpur district jails and Bhubaneswar special jail — are consistently found to be overcrowded, in the rest 17 jails overcrowding is temporary due to sudden rise in undertrial prisoners (UTPs) remanded by the courts in new cases.
“To decongest the three overcrowded jails, construction of three new jails with higher scheduled accommodation are underway. As an urgent measure to reduce overcrowding, inmates of the rest of the overcrowded jails are being shifted to nearby less populated jails in a regular manner after obtaining permission from concerned courts,” Sahu stated.
The two-judge bench of Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh and Justice M S Raman said, “The affidavit discloses a very gloomy picture concerning overcrowding in jails...We shall pass appropriate orders in this regard on the next date (June 26), if in the meanwhile there is no satisfactory progress in the situation.”
According to the affidavit, as on May 15, Bhubaneswar special jail had 1,345 inmates against a capacity of 991, an excess population of 46%. While the Jajpur jail has 199 inmates against a capacity of 133, 44% over the limit, the Bhadrak district jail has 266 inmates against a capacity of 201, 32% more prisoners. In Kamakhyanagar sub-jail, there is 97 % overcrowding.