Question : USE OF MOBILE PHONES BY INMATES



(a) whether the Government is aware of influx of mobile phone into various jails;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the total number of such mobile phones and sim cards seized during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise and jail-wise including Jaipur and Tihar Jail;

(c) whether the jail authorities have failed to check communication of prisoners with terrorists and the use of mobile phones by the inmates;

(d) if so, the reasons therefor; and

(e) the steps taken/to be taken by the Government to check the use of mobile phones by inmates in jails?

Answer given by the minister


MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI AJAY MAKEN)

(a) to (e): ‘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. It is for the State Governments to check influx of mobile phones in prisons and take appropriate remedial measures in this regard.

Data relating to number of mobile phone and sim cards seized in various jails and the State-wise cases reported are not maintained centrally. However, the number of mobile phones and sim cards seized during the last three years and in current year in Tihar Jail, Delhi is as under:


Year Mobile Phones Sized Sim cards seized
2007 Nil Nil
2008 Nil 2
2009 5 4
2010 4 5

(till date)

To check the use of mobile phones, following measures are being adopted particularly at Tihar Jail, Delhi.

i. Terrorists are kept in High Security wards thereby restricting their interaction with other ordinary category prisoners.

ii. Mobile phone jammers have been installed in jails.

iii. All possible precautionary measures like intensive searching of inmates at the entrance of jail by way of DFMD, HHMD & X-ray scanners are being undertaken.

CCTV cameras are also installed to keep surveillance over the activities of the prisoners.