India's jails crumbling, says panel

Hyderabad: As many as 1,401 prisons across the country are buckling under the weight of an inmate population of 4,19,263 convicts, detainees and under-trials. According to the Prison Statistics of India, prison occupancy stands at 114 per cent.

The prisons have 53,009 police staff — one jail official for every eight inmates.

The Law Commission of India, in its 268th report, has said, many prisons are struggling to meet minimal health, hygiene and safety standards, with basic amenities and even structural systems like plumbing and ventilation susceptible to break-downs.

The commission pointed out that with little money and human resources earmarked for maintenance, it is hard to overcome operational shortfalls. Further, there is no segregation of under-trials and convicts. The rising crime rates and the overcrowding of prisons mark the need to overhaul the crumbling prison infrastructure and system.

The commission said that reducing the sheer number of under-trials by releasing them on bail may serve an useful purpose.