Question : JAIL BREAK

(a) whether there are reports of jail breaks and escapes from the jails have been reported in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith the reasons therefor;

(c) the total number of such cases reported/registered and the action taken thereon during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(d) the action taken by the Government against the responsible officers for such cases during the said period, State-wise;

(e) whether the Union Government has issued any directive/advisory to various State Governments to stop such cases; and

(f) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the State Governments in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI JITENDRA SINGH)

(a) to (f): As per data compiled by National Crime Records Bureau(NCRB), a statement indicating number of jail breaks and escaps during the period 2007 to 2009 State-wise are at Annexure I and II.

‘Police’, ‘Prison’ and ‘Public Order’ are State subjects under the Seventh schedule of the Constitution, the responsibility, therefore, primarily lies with the respective State Governments. Any action against the accused jail officials is taken by the respective State Governments.

The Government of India has, however, issued advisories to State Governments on strengthening of security arrangements in jail(21.9.1998), on tightening of security measures in jail (14.08.2006) on transfer of prisoners from one jail to another, (16.07.2009), comprehensive advisory on all aspect of prison administration (17.07.2009) and on improving of security measures in jails to avoid the incident of jail breaking(16.10.2009), for taking appropriate corrective steps to avoid recurrence of such incidents.

Apart from the above, the Government of India has also circulated Model Prison Manual for the superintendence and management of prisons to all States/ UTs in 2003 for its adoption.