Question : COMMITTEE ON JAIL MANUAL

(a) whether the Bureau of Police Research and Development has constituted a Committee to bring out a Model Jail Manual;

(b) if so, the composition of the Committee alongwith the field of expertise of each member;

(c) whether elected representatives have been made a part of the Committee or whether their opinion has been obtained on issues concerned for the consideration of the Committee;

(d) whether specialists who are aware of the deficiencies in the jail administration like absence of proper medical facilities and meals, denial of human rights, misbehaviour by jail officials etc. have been included in the Committee; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI I.D.SWAMI)

(a): to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.


STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (e) OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 30 REGARDING COMMITTEE ON JAIL MANUAL FOR REPLY ON 16.7.2002.

(a) to (e): The Central Government have constituted a Committee in the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) under the Chairmanship of its Director General to prepare a Model Prison Manual which can be adopted by all States and Union Territories Director (R&D), BP(R&D) is the as Co-Chairman of the Committee and Assistant Director, (BPR&D) its Member Secretary. The Heads of Prison Departments of the States of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu and three out side experts of eminence, one each in the field of correctional administration, criminology and human rights are members of the Committee. Six Working Groups consisting of officers belonging to Prison Department of different States/Union Territories have been constituted by the Committee to assist it in the preparation of the Model Prison Manual. Elected representatives are not included as members of the Committee.

Members of the Committee and Working Groups are all experienced officers or experts and are fully aware of the deficiencies of existing prison infrastructure and administration. The Committee, however, is empowered to Co-opt any members, if necessary.