The Court was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition filed by a Madurai-based NGO seeking that the State be directed to appoint a trained and skilled non-official visitors to the Board of Visitors to Jails as per Rule 507 of the Tamil Nadu Prison Rules, 1983.
This Board is empowered to visit each of the central jails and sub-jails to address the grievances of prisoners and to help the prison administration on the development of correctional administration.
The petitioners had argued that while the 1983 Rules made constitution of such Board mandatory, the State authorities were yet to do so.
It also cited statistics to show instances of violence and breach of human rights of inmates in prisons across the State.
The NGO stated that over the years, prisons have become places of low visibility, where inhuman and cruel conditions of prisoners continue to prevail. It added that the Prisons Act, 1894 provides a mechanism by which people from the outside are appointed by governments to enter prisons and assess the human rights situation prevailing there.
“Inspection of jail by the visitors and their remarks in the visitor’s minutes books are aimed at improving the condition, toning up the efficiency and management of jails,” the plea stated.
Source: Barandbench
