Extortion rings in prisons

All is not well in our jails. Other than the reality of custodial violence and jailbreaks, and the fact that they are packed to the gills, with 114 per cent occupancy as per the Prison Statistics, 2015, there are grave concerns that the premises are being used to run extortion rackets in connivance with the staff. A former superintendent of Patiala Central Jail and other jail employees are in hot water for allegedly extorting Rs 15 lakh from the prime accused in the Muzaffarpur shelter home sex scandal, shifted to Punjab on SC orders. Recently in UP, a gangster-turned-politician was shifted to a ‘high-security’ jail after a businessman reported that he was kidnapped and brought to a prison where the gangster was lodged to sign away property papers worth crores. In another case, a jailer and constables were thrashed when they seized phones from a Rae Bareli jail barrack.

While UP jail inmates are notorious for extortion calls, prisons in Punjab are infamous for illegal activities, from the supply of drugs and liquor to phones and arms. Justice AN Mulla Committee Report, 1983, had recommended that the State subject of ‘prisons’ be moved to the Concurrent List. It also advocated a National Commission on Prisons, which would submit an annual report to Parliament. The All India Committee on Jail Reforms (1980-83) suggested that medals be instituted to recognise special services rendered by prison personnel. In September last year, taking cognisance of the issue, the Supreme Court directed the Centre to set up a committee to look into all aspects of jail reforms.

Like police reforms, prison practices have been over-discussed for decades. Any change that may have come is marginal and woefully insignificant to make a tangible difference in the 1,400 jails nationwide. Adequate, well-trained and committed staff should man these correctional facilities, the objective also being the reformation and reintegration of inmates into the mainstream. Discipline, security and management should be such that rogue elements dare not use cells as dens to carry on their illicit operations. It is a jail for a reason, and not a Vladnik carnival.