Mussoorie MlA and BJP leader Ganesh Joshi who came out from Suddhowala Jail on March 22 after he got bail in connection with the case of police horse Shaktiman sustaining injury, met Uttarakhand Governor KK Paul on Saturday and informed him of the problems the inmates of Suddhowala jail have been facing.
He demanded reform to better things for the elderly inmates who keep suffering because of the dearth of minimum amenities the correctional homes should be endowed with.
Joshi said that the number of inmates staying in Suddhowala jail is much more than the sanctioned capacity of 580. Currently, 1241 inmates are staying in Suddhowala jail, Joshi said.
He further said that there is a number of inmates whose age is over 70 years. Their condition is miserable. They often defecate on their beds, the MlA told the Governor.
Joshi said that in some States, elderly inmates veering on 60s are freed on humanitarian grounds. He said the same should happen in Uttarakhand too.
The MlA cited another instance of some, convicted of petty crimes, languishing in jails for years for their failure to pay Rs5,000 to secure freedom.
He said he had come across many who remained behind the bars and spending time along with hardened criminals for as many as six months for their failure to produce the meager sum.
Joshi appealed to the Governor to install solar heater to warm the water. The aged persons, suffering from major diseases, are facing difficulties to take bath in cold water, the MlA said.
Joshi said the Governor should review the dowry cases in connection to which several members of families are spending years in prisons. Some of them are elderly, on the threshold of 75.
He drew the Governor’s attention to the criminals having political connection getting and extending parole easily while there are many veering on 90-95 languishing in jail for the past two years being denied parole.
Governor assured the MlA that he would take measures to redress the grievances the inmates of the jails are bearing.