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Bhubaneswar: Expressing concern over the plethora of problems faced by inmates lodged in jails across the State, the Orissa High Court has directed district Collectors to conduct surprise visits and review the conditions prevailing in jails in their respective jurisdictions between March 15 and April 16, 2021.
While hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), the Court asked the Collectors to submit a joint report on the conditions prevailing in jails, the living condition of prisoners, issues of overcrowding, the status of facilities inside the jails including provisions of food, shelter and recreation.
Apart from this, the High Court has also directed the Odisha Government to organize at least one medical inspection at each of the district jails and sub jails in the State by a team of medical professionals within the aforementioned period.
The Court's direction is aimed at ensuring full compliance to the existing guidelines set by the Supreme Court.
The Court has also raised concerns over the rampant use of narcotics as well as mobile phones inside the jails. The court found the installation of CCTVs in jails not satisfactory and directed the State government and jail authorities to address the issue urgently.
"There may be criminal appeals pending of convicts/prisoners who may have served their entire sentences and have been released from the jail in the meanwhile. The Secretary of the Orissa High Court Legal Services Committee (OHCLSC) is directed to gather the details of all such prisoners in close coordination with the prisons authorities and place the details," the HC's order read.
The next date of hearing on the PIL has been scheduled for April 27.
