On SC’s directive, J&K govt forms committees to reform prisons

Srinagar, April 22: In response to a directive from the Supreme Court, the Jammu and Kashmir Government formed District Level Committees tasked with improving the conditions within the union territory’s prisons.
As per the official communication, each committee will be led by the Principal or District Judge, who will serve as the Chairman of the District Legal Services Authority. Alongside the Chairman, the committee will comprise the District Magistrate, Senior Superintendent or Superintendent of Police, Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority, and the Superintendent of the Jail.
The communication said that these committees have been assigned specific responsibilities aimed at uplifting prison infrastructure and standards. They are mandated to evaluate the existing infrastructure and capacity of jails and to identify the need for new constructions or expansions to meet the standards outlined in the Model Prison Manual of 2016.
The committees will also explore the implementation of modern technologies such as Artificial Intelligence and video conferencing to facilitate inmate communication and telemedicine services, the communication said, adding that they will also assess the need for acquiring land and expanding existing jails to accommodate the current and future demands of the districts.
The committees will oversee ongoing projects and proposals to ensure their timely completion and identify suitable land for projects that are yet to commence, it said, adding that their focus is on expediting processes and to obtain necessary approvals to fast-track the improvement of prison facilities.
It further said that these committees have the authority to formulate proposals beyond the minimum requirements specified in the Model Prison Manual to ensure that the needs of the districts are comprehensively addressed.
The committees are tasked with developing strategies that consider future projections spanning at least 50 years to ensure sustainable improvements in prison conditions, it added.