The Odisha Human Rights Commission (OHRC) has directed the Home Department Principal Secretary and IG (Prisons) to comply with its order in connection with the sufferings of under-trial prisons (UTPs) in jails in the State as soon as possible.
The commission, while acting on a complaint of Human Rights Watch secretary Sangita Swain which alleged that due to the indefinite strike of lawyers last year UTPs lodged in jails of Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur have suffered a lot and also the prison strength doubled resulting in shortage of space for sleeping, has on January 31, 2014 directed the Home Department Principal Secretary and IG (Prisons) to submit a report to it within eight weeks. Though the deadline ended on April 4, the two Government officers could not comply with the order of the OHRC.
Meanwhile, the commission has again directed the two senior officers to comply with its order and to apprise the commission about the steps taken to improve the living conditions of the inmates lodged in various jails forthwith. The commission has listed the matter for hearing on May 23, 2014.