The problem of overcrowding of inmates in Tihar is not going to end soon, as the Mandoli Jail in North East Delhi, having capacity to house 3,200 inmates has been found to be in lacking crucial security standards.
An audit of the under construction jail has found loopholes on 60 counts. The work of Mandoli Jail is almost complete but the Delhi Prisons administration has refused to take over its charge. The Jail authorities have written to the Delhi Government informing them about the glaring lacunae in security norms.
Tihar Jail administration has raised serious questions on the standards followed in the construction of Mandoli Jail. Sources said walls are low in height and could be easily scaled by inmates. “The three-tier boundary walls do not meet the criteria of height for jails. Besides, the Mandoli Jail is surrounded by the high-rise residential complexes from where anyone can easily throw objects inside the jail premises,” an official said. The officials of the Tihar have intimated the Public Works Department (PWD) that constructed the jail about the requisite security standards. They have also written to the Delhi Government informing them about the mandatory requirements prior to the taking over the charge of the newly constructed jail.
An official told The Pioneer that the construction work of Mandoli Jail is almost complete and they were asked to take over jail and shift the inmates from overcrowded Tihar Jail.
Asia’s largest prison Tihar has 13,000 inmates which is double from its capacity of 6,000 in all the nine jails. Rohini Jail, which is also a part of Tihar is running over twice of its capacity.