'Avoid Making Prisons Breeding Ground For Anti-National Activities': MHA Writes To States, UTs

The order emphasised creating better medical facilities for the prisoners in such a manner that reduces the requirement of referral of inmates outside the prison complex. 

MHA Issues Order To Avoid Breeding Anti-Nationals In Prisons. (Representational Image)

New Delhi: The Ministry of Home Affairs has written to all states and Union Territories to take steps to avoid making prisons a breeding ground for anti-national activities, ANI reported. In an order issued on Monday, the MHA suggested conducting regular inspections of prisons and taking appropriate measures to strengthen security arrangements and implement effective administration. 

The order was also issued to additional chief secretaries and principal secretaries (Home) of all states and UTs as well as Director-General or Inspector General (Prisons). 

It directed that the inmates should be motivated to leave the life of crime and become responsible citizens of the nation.

The order emphasised creating better medical facilities for the prisoners in such a manner that reduces the requirement of referral of inmates outside the prison complex. 

The Home Ministry also suggested that in order to give the prisoners a positive outlook in life, psychological assessment of inmates should be done by competent medical professionals to check depression, ANI reported.

"Assessment of inmates by Psychologists and Correctional Experts may be done wherever necessary for studying the stress and behavioural issues of inmates and appropriate programs may be prescribed for them," the MHA order states.

The order mentions the need to train prison and correctional staff, pointing out that they play a significant role in the efficient management of prisons.

"States and UTs may identify and establish suitable training institutes for providing training to prison personnel on varied aspects of prisons and correctional administration on a regular basis," the order states.

The Home Ministry suggested states and UTs to discourage complacency and corrupt practices in prisons and rotation of jail staff on a regular basis. "Inter-jail (and not intra-jail) transfer of staff every two years is considered desirable," it said.

The order further said that jail structure and periphery wall of all jails should be inspected. "It may be ensured that the distance between the outer wall and wall of the jail ward and complex are designed in such a manner that incidents of throwing contraband items from outside the prison is not possible," the communication said.

The order suggested conducting background checks on NGOs that are working with inmates or prison activities and that "appropriate oversight may also be kept on the literature available in prison libraries to ensure that inmates are not influenced negatively".

The order mentioned jamming solutions so that inmates cannot use phones that are snuck in illegally.

First time offenders and repeat offenders may be segregated and should be housed in separate wards and prison complex with a view to ensure that habitual offenders are not able to negatively influence the first time offenders, the MHA order said.

Referring to the Model Prison Manual 2016, forwarded to all states and UTs in May 2016, the MHA said many states were yet to confirm whether they had adopted it.

"Despite constant follow up by the Ministry of Home Affairs, many states are yet to confirm the status of adoption of the Model Prison Manual, 2016 in their jurisdictions," it said.

The Home Ministry said the Model Prison Manual, 2016, was aimed at bringing uniformity in the basic principles governing jails in the country.