Question : Expenditure on Jail Inmates

(a) whether the Supreme Court has recently directed the Union Government
to come out with a scheme to audit spending by prisons with C&AG’s assistance;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the action proposed to be taken by the Government on the directive of the Supreme Court;

(c) whether huge discrepancies in expenses incurred on jail inmates by various States have come to the notice of the Supreme Court; and

(d) if so, the details thereof along with the steps taken/proposed to be taken by the Union Government to monitor proper and timely utilisation of funds by various prisons in the country?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a) to (d): Yes, in writ petition (Civil) 406/2013 regarding “Inhuman Conditions in 1382 prisons”, the Supreme Court has issued an order on 17.02.2017. The Court has inter-alia observed that there is a huge discrepancy in the amount spent on inmates between the Jail of one State to another. The Court has noted that it may perhaps be necessary to have the accounts audited and has inter-alia directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to have the accounts of the prisons audited with the assistance of C&AG.
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LS.US.Q.No.6099 FOR 11.04.2017

The Government of India has forwarded the order of the Court dated 17.2.2017 to all States and UTs. The Comptroller and Auditor General of India was apprised of the order of the Court. The office of C&AG has informed MHA that functioning of prisons/jails, being a State subject, has already been audited by the CAG in a few states during 2016-17 and audit reports thereon are tabled in the respective State legislatures. CAG has further stated that issues relating to prison management have already been covered in audit.




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