Staff Reporter
Thrissur: Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has said the State government is awaiting the President’s approval for establishing two-way video communication systems between jails and courts.
Mr. Balakrishnan was addressing a State-level seminar on ‘Correctional administration,’ organised by the Prisons Department, here on Saturday.
“The State Government has got the Criminal Procedure Code amended in this connection and forwarded the papers for the President’s approval. Technical arrangements have been made to install videoconferencing systems in jail. They have already been installed in 25 jails.”
He noted that transportation of remand prisoners who should make appearances in courts of law involved security risks, deployment of a large number of policemen and huge expenses.
“All these can be avoided if jails have videoconferencing facilities.”
The Minister stated that the government was planning to construct four new jails. “Space constraints in jails are triggering human rights problems. Remand prisoners are accommodated in large numbers in jails. The 41 jails in the State have space to accommodate only 4,319 persons. But 6,654 persons are lodged there. This causes friction among prisoners. Only convicts should be placed in central prisons. Remand prisoners should be lodged in district and sub-jails.”
He said that space available on the premises of jails would be used for farming.
“Every jail will be allowed to use for its development 20 per cent of the funds it generates from the work of prisoners.”
He directed wardens with the Kannur Central Jail to ensure that inmates did not damage a mobile jammer installed there.
“The mobile jammer breaks down mysteriously every now and then. Are inmates behind this? Anyway, the government will pay Keltron, which has installed the jammer, only if the company ensures that the equipment functions well,” he said.
(The Hindu, 28 February 2010)
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