Haryana Jail authorities have decided to make some changes in their jail manual after a notice was issued to them by the Punjab and Haryana High Court on March 12, 2013.
Haryana follows the Punjab Jail manual for classifying prisoners and providing them better amenities within the jail premises.
However, after the High Court notice, the State Home Department came into action and has decided to make some changes in the manual which will be applicable to jails within Haryana.
Senior officials working with the State Home Department said that there are number of drawbacks in the present jail manual which is being followed by Haryana Prison authorities and these provisions hold no prominence in the present circumstances.
Hence, some basic changes will be brought to rectify the shortcomings.
According to the sources, many hardcore criminals get undaunted attention and care at the State prison and this practice is being carried out for long.
The prisoners are allowed homemade food, fancy clothes and other luxury items according to their demand within the jail.
However, with the proposed amendment, these malpractices will be curbed and no prisoner will be entitled to special treatment.
The State Government has also prepared a list of hardcore criminals lodged in different jails on counts of murder, kidnapping, sedition, spying and rape. At present, 35 prisoners are behind the bars on charges of murder, some under trial and other convicted.
Out of these, 17 prisoners are in central jail Hissar, 13 in Gurgaon and five in Karnal.
A spokesperson of the Home Department said, “We have received a report from the Jail reforms committee with suggestions. A committee has been formed to look into the suggestions and the report will be forwarded at the earliest after proper review.” Notably, a division bench comprising of Chief Justice AK Sikri and Justice RK Jain of the High Court had issued the notice after considering a PIl filed by advocate HC Arora.
The PIl contended that classification of prisoners on the basis of family background, income and educational qualification is unconstitutional as it violates Article 14 and 15 of the constitution of India. The petition stated that “Prisoners cannot be treated differently in jails since everybody is equal before law.
Thus granting special provision to well of prisoners belonging to affluent families is arbitrary and illegal.”