The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed all the States and Union Territories (UTs) to furnish detailed information on the strength of officers and other staff in jails [In Re: Inhuman Conditions in 1382 Prisons]..A Bench of Justices Hrishikesh Roy and SVN Bhatti asked the States and UTs to furnish cadre-wise information on the strength of officers and staff, including the number of vacancies."All states/UTs must furnish cadre wise into on the strength of officers and staff meant for exigencies in the jails. The information also needed on number of vacancies and efforts underway to fill the same," the Court said while granting 8 weeks time for submission of the data..The Court was hearing a suo motu plea regarding overcrowding and inhumane conditions in Indian prisons.During the last hearing, the Court had urged prison authorities to take a proactive approach in identifying women undertrials who have become eligible for release under under Section 479(1) of Bharatiya Nyaya Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).The provision provides for the release of first-time offenders who have undergone one-third of the maximum period of imprisonment prescribed..During the hearing on Tuesday, the Court also flagged the issue overcrowding in jails and how lack of staff causes additional issues for the inmates. "The amicus in the last week had a meeting with Director NALSA and Member Secretary in 3.12.2024 and deliberations were made on the vacancies of jail staff in the country. Letters were written to the concerned Director General of Prisons in few states and info was secured only from state of Bihar. When jails are overcrowded and prisons are understaffed, it is bound to escalate the difficulties for the convicts and undertrials lodged in the jail," the Court said..Senior Advocate Gaurav Agrawal is the Amicus Curiae in the matter.
