Latest news with #ModelPrisonsandCorrectionalServicesAct
Scroll.in
07-08-2025
- Politics
- Scroll.in
No state has confirmed adoption of 2023 Model Prisons Act: Centre tells Rajya Sabha
The Union Home Ministry told Rajya Sabha on Wednesday that no state has confirmed the adoption of the Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023 in their jurisdictions. However, Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar said that 21 states and all union territories have adopted the Model Prison Manual, 2016. The manual seeks to bring in uniformity in the basic principles governing prisons and correctional institutions in the country. The Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, meant to be a guiding document for states, addresses the gaps in the Prisons Act, 1894. Currently, the 1894 law, along with state manuals, defines the framework for jail administrations in the country. The 2023 Act contains provisions for security assessment, individual sentence planning, grievance redressal mechanisms and the use of technology, among others. In May 2023, the Centre said that states and union territories can adopt the Model Prisons Act with any necessary modifications, and then repeal the Prisons Act (1894), the Prisoners Act (1900) and the Transfer of Prisoners Act (1950). As per the Constitution, state governments are entrusted with prison administration. Kumar on Wednesday told the Rajya Sabha that states must allocate budgets for infrastructure like building prison libraries. In December, the ministry amended the prison manual rules to prohibit discrimination and the segregation of prisoners on the basis of caste. The changes came more than two months after the Supreme Court on October 3 struck down the prison manual rules, saying that they promoted caste discrimination in jails by allocating prisoners from oppressed communities to carry out menial jobs in jails. The October 3 order came on a petition filed by journalist Sukanya Shantha, following her investigative reporting series in The Wire on caste-based discrimination and segregation in jails. The petition highlighted that prison manuals in several states promote such discrimination. The reporting found that the division of labour was being determined on the ''purity-impurity' scale, with the higher castes handling only work that is considered 'pure' and those lower in the caste grid being left to carry out the 'impure' jobs'.
The Hindu
07-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Centre calls for curbing radicalisation in prisons to ensure internal security
With radicalisation in prisons becoming an increasingly critical challenge in the global context and often found to be a precursor to several criminal activities, the Union Government has called for urgent steps to counter the menace. The Ministry of Home Affairs in an advisory to Home Secretaries of all States/Union Territories, said there was a need to check and counter radicalisation of vulnerable individuals in prison settings and to undertake an exercise for de-radicalisation of such individuals as the same was considered crucial for preserving public order and ensuring internal security. In prison environment, radicalisation could be typically dangerous, as the campuses were closed spaces where social isolation, group dynamics and lack of oversight could foster extreme points of view. Prisoners could often become vulnerable to radical narratives owing to feelings of alienation, tendency towards violent behaviour and anti-social attitudes. 'In some cases, radicalised inmates may engage in acts of violence or orchestrate attacks against prison staff, fellow inmates, or even external targets. It is therefore important to address the issue of radicalisation in prisons for reducing the risks of violent extremism, fostering rehabilitation, ensuring national security, and supporting successful reintegration of prisoners into society,' the MHA said. Referring to the 'Model Prison Manual, 2016' and the 'Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023', the MHA said the model frameworks rolled out by the Government of India had guidance on classification and separation of high-risk prisoners, extremists etc. and setting up of special enclosures, including High Security Prisons, to house such prisoners separately. Reiterating its earlier advisories on ensuring segregation, surveillance and counselling of hardcore prisoners and to take suitable reformative steps to counter the threat of radicalisation, the Home Ministry said that in light of the growing concerns about the malady of radicalisation in prisons, the States were expected to follow the guidelines. Individual risk assessments should be periodically conducted both at the time of entry of the prisoner and during his/her period of incarceration at periodic intervals. Prison authorities could coordinate with the law-enforcement and intelligence agencies to identify inmates who could pose a risk of radical influence to other inmates. Establish separate prisons High-risk inmates who were inclined towards propagating the ideology of radicalisation should be segregated from the general prison population to minimise the risk of indoctrination. 'States/UTs may consider establishing an independent High Security Prison Complex in their jurisdiction for housing hardened/radicalised prisoners, terrorists etc. separately with a view to prevent them from influencing other inmates. These inmates should be kept under enhanced surveillance using monitoring tools and intelligence mechanisms to detect and address potential threats and radical networks within the prison.' Besides rehabilitation programmes and other training modules to engage prisoners in a productive manner, the authorities could promote continued contact between inmates and their family members to strengthen their emotional stability
The Hindu
06-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
States told to make prison infrastructure accessible to inmates with disabilities
: Existing prison infrastructure across the country will be redesigned to address the special needs of persons with disabilities. Jail authorities will adapt and retrofit existing facilities to ensure compliance to the 'Accessibility Standards and Guidelines' for Police Stations, Prisons & Disaster Mitigation Centres notified by the Union Government. Also read: The long fight for accessibility, dignity in Indian prisons In a communication to all the Chief Secretaries/Heads of Prisons, the Ministry of Home Affairs called for incorporating the accessibility standards in the current jail set-up as well as in upcoming prison infrastructure projects to make amenities accessible, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of persons with disabilities. The guidelines were derived from the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, with the objective of ensuring equality, dignity and inclusion for persons with disabilities. As part of the initiatives to make the facilities available to all inmates, a national level architectural design for prisons equipped with accessible routes/pathways and ramps, parking, entrance to the building, corridors, toilets, doors, signage, etc was provided to all States/UTs. The MHA said that persons with disabilities, when incarcerated, might face marginalisation due to lack of suitable accommodation in prisons and correctional facilities. Accessible prisons uphold the principles of dignity, equality, and non-discrimination, enabling inmates with disabilities to participate fully in prison life, access healthcare, rehabilitation, education, etc. on an equal basis with others. It was imperative to reimagine prisons as inclusive spaces that protected and promoted the rights of all inmates, including those with disabilities. Special needs of inmates Considering the special needs of inmates with disabilities, a new provision called 'Rights and Facilities for Prisoners with Disabilities' had been added in the Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023, where provisions were made for ensuring non-discrimination, accessibility to all amenities, healthcare and rehabilitation, screening and identification and suitable training to jail staff on appropriate handling of prisoners with disabilities. The Home Ministry also issued drawings, evolved from a national-level architectural design idea competition for jails, that provided easy access for inmates with disabilities to corridors, toilets, reception/lobby area etc. The competition organised by the Bureau of Police Research and Development was aimed at rehabilitating inmates by providing the best possible humane environment.
