As a precursor to increasing the number of prisons in Maharashtra, Home Department has constituted district-level committees to assess the infrastructure available in prisons and also the requirement for more prisons in the State. The committees constituted in compliance to the directions of the Supreme Court, have been asked to take into consideration the infrastructure requirement for the next 50 years ‘at least’. In its order dated January 30 in a writ petition (civil), the Supreme Court of India issued directions for constitution of district-level committees to assess the infrastructure requirement of prisons. Pursuant to this, Home Department of Maharashtra Government has appointed six-member district-level committees. Each committee will be headed by Principal/District Judge (Chairperson of the District Legal Services Authority), and Secretary of the District Legal Services Authority will be the convenor. The other four members include District Magistrate, Commissioner of Police of his representative, Superintendent of Police, and Superintendent(s) of Prison.

 

These committees will assess the infrastructure available in prisons in respective district and make recommendations to the State Government regarding the number of additional prisons to be constructed. Further, the panels will assess the current capacity of the existing prisons and requirement to construct more prisons or enhance the capacity of existing prisons to meet the standards laid down in the Model Prison Manual, 2016. The committees will also examine the requirement of acquiring land to set up new prisons, depending upon the current capacity, occupancy, and future demands of the respective district. These will submit firm proposals in this regard. The committees will have to take into consideration the infrastructure requirement for the next 50 years ‘at least’.

 

The committees are expected to keep abreast with the status of all the ongoing projects/proposals pending the respective districts and ensure that milestones are set for completing those. Wherever a project is yet to take off for want of land, the district-level committees have been entrusted with the task of taking steps to identity the land to be acquired, and tabling the report before the Chief Secretary for obtaining necessary approvals and fast-tracking the process. Interestingly, Home Department has asked the committees to assess the requirement for use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and introducing video-conferencing for conducting ‘e-Mulakaat’, appearance before courts, and telemedicine facilities for convenience of prison inmates. Further, the committees may examine needs of respective districts and prepare proposals over and above those laid down in the Model Prison Manual, without compromising on the minimum requirements specified therein.