(a) whether there are reports of undertrials forming major portion
of the prison population in the country due to delays in initiating and
conclusion of trials;
(b) if so, the steps taken and the progress made in this regard
during the last three years;
(c) whether instances of denial of bail to undertrials due to
high bail amount and violation of bail norms have been reported
in the past; and
(d) if so, the details thereof and the action taken by the
Government in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) & (b): As per prison statistics compiled by National Crime Record
Bureau (NCRB), the undertrial population at the end of 2010 was 2,40,098
(65.1% of total inmates). “Prison†is a State subject under List II of the
Seventh Schedule to the Constitution and, therefore, Prison Administration
is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments. However, a scheme
for modernization of prisons was launched by the Government of India in the
year 2002-03 with a total outlay of Rs 1800 crore in 27 States (excluding
Arunachal Pradesh) on a sharing basis of 75:25 between the Central and State
Governments respectively which includes creation of new jails and creation
of additional barracks to reduce overcrowding which has come down to 15.1%
(in 2010) from 22.8% (2009) Active efforts are made by the State Governments
to minimize detention period of undertrials. 13,65,522 undertrials were
released during the year 2012.
(c) No data relating to denial of bail is maintained at the Centre or States
and hence cannot be commented upon.
(d) Does not arise.