One may not be surprised if the jail inmates escape, giving a slip to the on-duty guards or have crime plans drafted inside the prisons with around 70 per cent of the jail posts lying vacant over the past few years. The jail authorities had sent proposals, demanding recruitment of jail staffs and seeking 125 police officers and police personnel on deputation from the police department to overcome the crunch a few months back.
However, those in positions to address the demands keep on sitting on the proposals for reasons best known to them. Even the infamous Bhura escapade that triggered a ruckus across the State has failed to end the impasse, the jail officials rue.
In August last year, gangster Sunil Rathi, lodged in Roorkee jail, had drafted a plan in cahoots with his aides to murder his rival Cheenu Pandit. Three were killed as the sharp shooters went on firing spree outside the jail premises.
With things being probed, Rathi again affronted the jail authority and the law enforcers when he had had his close confidante and gangster Amit Malik ‘Bhura’ freed from the police custody in Baghpat on December 15.
Pauri jail official said that CCTV cameras and cell-phone jammers have been installed in some jails in the State. But the persons recruited through UPNl can hardly be relied upon when it comes to monitoring CCTV cameras and jamming cell-phones.
Jails being overcrowded are further compounding their problems, he added. Junior jail officers of the rank of deputy jailor or head warder are heading the jails in Tehri, Pauri, Chamoli, Roorkee and others and these officers have to report the SDM concerned on daily basis as regards budget and other decisions.
It means that things are being left to the charge of junior jail officials like warden or head warden for five to six hours daily, leaving the jails highly vulnerable.
Meanwhile, taking note of various security lapses found in recent years in the jails at Roorkee and Dehradun like the inmates using mobile phones to plan and lead crimes occurring outside the jails, the state government had given the post of IG jail to an IPS officer.
People were relieved, thinking that the crucial post being given to an IPS would better jail administration. But the staff crunch remaining un-addressed is coming in the way of the jails becoming jails in the true sense.
“Things are being left to god’s grace,” said a worried jail official. The shortage of jail officials including jail superintendent, jailor, deputy jailors, head warders, warders and female warders has been leaving an adverse impact on the functioning of jail administration.
Earlier after assuming charge, IG jail PVK Prasad had said that he had sent a proposal to the State Government for the recruitment of 360 jail officials which has been pending for long. This aside, he had sought 125 policemen on deputation for a year from the state government-a matter which has been too pending before the Government.