Randhawa: Will turn jails into ‘sudhar ghar’

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, August 14

Jails Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa on Wednesday said that the government would amend rules regarding panchayatnama, mandatory for granting parole to prisoners.

He was here to preside over a programme organised at the Amritsar Central Jail to mark the Independence Day celebrations. He said that he was committed to turning prisons into ‘sudhar ghar’ by bringing welfare schemes for the benefit of inmates.

While addressing prisoners, the Jails Minister said that due to delayed or non-issuance of panchayatnama by village panchayats, the parole of prisoners got delayed. “We are contemplating to amend the rules. If panchayats fail to issue the same after three reminders, it will be considered in favour of the prisoner,” the minister said.

“If you maintain discipline, I promise that you will not face problems during confinement in jails,” Randhawa said.

“Send me a letter if you have any problem. I will try to get it sorted out within 24 hours,” he added.

The Jails Minister said the state government had issued grants amounting to Rs 25 lakh to each jail in the state for various works. He also announced Rs 10-lakh grant for installing a chapatti-making machine on the jail premises.