Prison is a state subject under the constitution. Reforms in prison administration have been slow, ad hoc and lacking in institutional character. They have been mainly based on interventions by the courts.
Against the backdrop of it was a matter of great pride that the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative
Organized National Conference on Prison Oversight on 8th November in Delhi of Heads of Prisons of States , Union Territories and dedicated social reformers on Prison reforms. This conference provided a platform to the correctional administrators in states/UTs to exchange ideas and learn from each other’s experience. Over the years the JK Foundation has transformed, through several additions of responsibilities, into its present structure. Now, JK Foundation promotes excellence in the functioning of Police and correctional administration, undertakes research and development, identifies appropriate technologies for effective police and prisons functioning and above all, helps improve the human resources by upgrading the training methods, curricula, reading material and facilities. Being involved in Police and Prisoner Reforms, we were consulted to be part of the South Indian Chapter (Tamil Nadu),to share our input in the deliberations by presenting policy imperatives and suggesting measures in improving the quality of correctional services.
For the last 15 years CHRI has been advocating to strengthen prison oversight mechanisms in order to check unnecessary and illegal detention of prisoners. As a part of the access to justice initiative of CHRI, the prison reform programme has been working on early and effective access to legal aid and strengthening prison oversight. They work closely with the legal services institutions, the prison department and the human rights commissions. While their research and advocacy have acted as a catalyst in influencing policy change and ensuring compliance by duty holders, both in letter and spirit, there remains a long road ahead.
To spur prison monitoring, CHRI has readied two national reports – ‘Looking into the Haze: A Study on Prison Monitoring in India’ and ‘Circle of Justice: National Report on Undertrial Review Committees’ that examine the functioning of two prison oversight mechanisms – the Board of Visitors and the Undertrial Review Committees. This is the first time any of these bodies have been examined in depth on an all India level. The analysis of their functioning is based on information provided to us under the RTI law. The aim of creating this evidence base is to make available reliable data against which stakeholders can move speedily towards more transparent and accountable governance.
The event had these reports launched by the representatives from National Human Rights Commission, Central Information Commission, National Commission of Women and other offices.
Invitees to the event are Dr. Sanjoy Hazarika, Director, CHRI
Dr. Ronald Meinardus, Regional Director (South Asia), Friedrich-Naumann-
Stiftungfür die Freiheit ,
Prof. Shamim Modi, Tata Institute Social Sciences, Mumbai, Ms. Sugandha Shankar, Prison Reform Programme, CHRI
Ms. Mrinal Sharma, Prison Reform Programme, CHRI, Mr. Wajahat Habibullah, first Chief Information
Commissioner of IndiaChairperson, Executive Committee (CHRI), Moderator:Ms. Maja Daruwala, former Director, CHRI,
Speakers
Mr. Shailesh Gandhi, Former Information Commissioner, Central Information
Commission
Mr. Harsh Mander, Director, Centre for Equity Studies and Special Commissioner
to Supreme Court of India on Right to Food
Dr. Aman Hingorani, Senior Advocate on Record, Supreme Court, Founder
Member, Kapila and Nirmal Hingorani Foundation
Mr. Collin Gonsalves, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court, Founder Member and
Director of Human Rights Law Network
Representatives of State Human Rights Commissions: Hon’ble Justice Shri
Rajesh Tandon, Member, Uttarakhand Human Rights Commission; Shri Manoj
Kumar Chhabra, IPS, Director Investigation-cum-Addl. D.G. of Police, Odisha
Human Rights Commission; Shri J.P. Rao, Registrar, Law, Madhya Pradesh
Human Rights Commission; Shri S.C. Goel, Registrar, Administration, Haryana
Human Rights Commission; Shri Awadhesh Kumar Sharma, IGP, Bihar Human
Rights Commission; Shri H. Haolai, ACS, Secretary, Assam Human Rights
Commission.
Representatives from Civil Society: Human Rights Law Network (HRLN);
International Bridges to Justice (IBJ), Delhi;Multiple Action Research Group
(MARG);Centre for Law & Society, Tata Institute of Social Sciences(TISS);
Mr. Shailesh Gandhi, Ex-Information Commissioner, Central Information Commission, Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court, Aman Hingorani, Dr. Shamim Modi, Asst. Professor, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, and senior representatives of National Human Rights Commission, and the Ministry of Home Affairs.
