Prison Right A reality from grass-root level

Lenin Raghuvanshi
Executive Director

Detention Watch launched on 11 April, 2011 to monitor any type of detention happening with the adult and children such as Judicial Custody Police Custody Custody in Remand Home Administrative Custody

The effort of detention watch was to upshots with several notices served to authorities such as Chief Secretaries of the States, Director of Police and Director of Prison.

In 2 years nearly 1500 cases intervened in 26 states & union territories of India with focus on 250 cases of custodial death on following issues: Infrastructure: 1. Shortage of space to accommodate the large number of prisoners. (over crowding) Due to the double strengthen of under-trials and convicts 2. Shortage of other basic amenities such as bathrooms, toilets etc.

Health: 1. Unhygienic condition and over crowding gave rises to many diseases such as tuberculosis, Asthama, cough, HIV and skin diseases. 2. Death in prison due to medical negligence. 3. 4,470 of the inmates were mentally challenged persons accounting for 1.2 per cent of the total. They include convicts, undertials and detenues. Inhumane Act: 1. Sexual abuse 2. Torture 3. Juvenile accused sent to adult jail 4. Custodial death including suicide through Hanging 5. Kids in jail with mothers

PVCHR Demanded:

1. For providing legal service and other services to inmates. To provide free legal aid by the Legal Service Authority (LSA) to the under consideration poor prisoner belongs to marginalized community. 2. Only hard core criminals kept in prison and trivial cases should be released on bail. 3. For forgiving the conviction of the lower caste especially SC/ST inmates.

4. To conduct an inquiry in this incident of custodial death under section 176(1)A Cr.PC by a Judicial Magistrate 5. To provide compensation to the deceased victim's family. 6. To provide basic amenities in the hygienic condition such as toilet etc. 7. Proceeding of the court in Hindi as most of the inmates are illiterate.

After complain new prison constructed in Sonbhadra district of Uttar Pradesh and 15 new barrack constructed in Varanasi central prison. Received communication from H.E Governor office with direction to Chief Secretary, Uttar Pradesh for taking appropriate action. In the NHRC NGOs core group meeting Children living with mothers in Jail and visits to jail and legal aid to weaker sections was discussed. The Chairperson, NHRC took note of issues raised and decided to write a letter to all the Chief Justices. Apart from the need for ensuring legal aide, he reiterated the implementation of guidelines of Supreme Court and NHRC in respect of conditions prevailing in jails.

PVCHR filed PIL in Honble High Court through HRLN :

1. Right to education and recreational facilities to the children languishing in jails with their mother.
2. To ensure the appointment of one doctor available to the women prisoners in Naini Central Jails on daily basis and one gynecologist and a child specialist to visit the womens wards of Naini Central Jail