Question : JAIL BREAKS

(a) whether there are reports of jail breaks, escapes, securing of release from prisons through forged documents etc. in the country including the National Capital Territory of Delhi;

(b) if so, the details thereof alongwith resultant consequences on the law & order situation;

(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) whether there are also reports of alleged connivance of jail officials in facilitating the escape of such persons;

(e) if so, the total number of such cases reported and the action taken against the accused officials during the said period, State-wise;

(f) whether the Union Government has issued any directive/advisory to various State Governments to check such Jail breaks; and

(g) 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 GURUDAS KAMAT)

(a) to (g): As per data compiled by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), a statement indicating number of jail during the period 2006 to 2008 State- wise is at Annexure. Information relating to the prisoners securing release from the prison through forged document is not maintained centrally.

‘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 (21.09.1998), tightening of security measures in jail (14.08.2006), release of prisoner on forged document (16.07.2009), comprehensive advisory on all aspect of prison administration (17.07.2009) and improving of security measures in jail 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.