Chief Justice visits Central Jail Srinagar

Chief Justice of J&K High Court Justice Gita Mittal, on Saturday made her maiden visit to Central Jail Srinagar where she inspected various arrangements related to diet, health, hygiene, sanitation, prisoners’ barracks, vocational training and medical facilities put in place for inmates.

The Chief Justice was received by DGP Prisons V K Singh andwas presented with a Guard of Honour.

   

She took a round of the Jail premises and interacted withthe Jail inmates. The Chief Justice was accompanied by A.R. Malik, PrincipalDistrict & Sessions Judge Srinagar and Jawad Ahmad, Principal Secretary toChief Justice. Dr. M.S. Lone, DIG Prisons, Shalender, DIG (North) CRPF, T.R.Katoch, Sr. Superintendent, Central Jail Srinagar and senior officers of thePrisons Department and CRPF were also present on the occasion.

The Chief Justice in her address said that the aim ofJudiciary is to provide legal aid services to all inmates. She emphasized thatthere is a need to generate awareness among the inmates about their rights andit is the responsibility of the judiciary to ensure that the inmates are notdeprived of their rights. She said efforts are being made to link the courtswith the Jails for trial purpose.

Speaking on the occasion, the DGP Prisons informed the ChiefJustice that there are 3394 inmates in the J&K prisons which include 137female inmates. He said that out of the sanctioned strength of 1581 posts,presently 911 are filled while as 670 posts are vacant which include ninedoctors and 30 Para-Medics. He briefed the Chief Justice about the facilitiesavailable in the prisons and steps being taken for the reformation of inmates.He informed that vocational trainings in trades like Carpentry, Electrician,Cutting and Tailoring, Crewel work, Computers and Paper Machie are beingimparted in the Jail.

Besides sports, cultural activities and library, televisionsets have been provided in all barracks for the recreation of inmates. Heapprised the Chief Justice about the e-Prisons Management System in which dataof prisoners is computerized and shared on a National Portal. The DGP said thatsteps are being taken to modernize the interview rooms and to furtherstreamline interview procedure in the Jails. He also talked about the ongoinge-Courts project and new Jail Manual which is in the final stage.

During interaction with inmates, the Chief Justice took noteof the grievances of inmates like non-availability of police escort andshortage of medical/para-medical staff. The inmates also requested for theirspeedy trial.  The inmates expressedtheir gratitude to the Chief Justice for visiting the Jail. She alsoinaugurated the Administrative Block during her visit. An official statement saidthis was for the first time that any Chief Justice of High Court of J&Kvisited the Central Jail Srinagar.

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