HYDERABAD: A division bench of the High Court on Tuesday issued notices to the Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governments, asking them to file comprehensive reports within three weeks in a taken up PIL relating to overcrowding of prisons in both the States and lack of adequate staff to maintain inmates.
The bench, comprising acting chief justice Ramesh Ranganathan and justice J Uma Devi, was dealing with the suo motu PIL following recent directions by the Supreme Court in a case relating to “Inhuman conditions in 1,382 prisons”.
The apex court, in its order, expressed dissatisfaction at the efforts and endeavour put in by the State governments in bringing down overcrowding of prisoners in the prisons which was beyond 100 to 150 percent and this grave issue was in violation of human rights as well. The court found that there were 1,382 prisons across the country with overcrowding and lack of adequate staff to maintain prisons in good condition. The court pointed out that the prison authorities were showing least interest in having adequate staff in prisons and, as a result, it was leading to haphazard and callous administration of prisons.
The bench issued notices to the chief secretary, principal secretary to home, director-general of police, director- general of correctional services (prisons), state legal services authorities of both AP and Telangana for filing reports regarding the steps taken by them to cut down overcrowding in prisons as well as the steps taken to recruit sufficient staff for better administration. Details of the number of prisons and their capacity, number of prisoners lodged now, sanctioned strength and vacancy position have to be mentioned in the report. The bench posted the matter to a date after three weeks.
