Submit report on Bhadrak prison in 4 wks: NHRC to govt

Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has issued a notice to the Odisha director general of prisons, seeking an action taken report on overcrowded and dilapidated Bhadrak jail within four weeks. The commission issued the direction on September 27 after hearing a petition, filed by lawyer and human rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy in May.
Alleging that the jail is over-crowded, Tripathy requested the rights commission’s intervention into the serious matter. “The commission will be constrained to invoke coercive process under Section 13 of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993, calling for a personal appearance of the authority concerned for submission of the report, in case the report is not received within the stipulated time,” read the panel’s direction. Twelve prisoners are reportedly lodged at the jail’s female ward, which is designed for only two.
“There is a proposal to construct a new jail building, but no action has been taken. Prisoners are forced to stay in the dilapidated building,” said the petitioner.
In 2012, replying to Tripathy’s petition, the IG (prisons) had assured that a new modern jail for Bhadrak district will be built at Amargadia at an estimated cost of Rs 12.2 crore. “But it is yet to be materialised,” Tripathy added. In 2015, Tripathy said, the OHRC had asked the state to take necessary steps in this regard.
“A decision was taken to shift the jail and tenders floated. However, nothing has been done due to bureaucratic norms and regulations,” he added. The rights panel has listed the case for further hearing to be held on November 9.