Replacing voice and video calls with physical mulaqats is extremely near sighted and contrary to legal provisions and causes unnecessary hardships on the family members and legal representatives, the organisation claimed in the PIL.
“When technology exists to bridge the geographic divide, not to use the same, especially in the light of fact that the technology was used and implemented successfully during pandemic would be extremely arbitrary and would amount to violation of the inmates’ constitutional rights,” PUCL stated.
The PIL sought implementation of the Model Prison Manual of 2016 which includes a provision that a Superintendent of Prisons may allow prisoners to use telephones or electronic modes of communication to contact his family and lawyers upon making payment.
Source: Barandbench
