One Open & Two Special Jails In State To Be Operational Soon: Govt Informs Chhattisgarh High Court

Filing an affidavit in response to the High Court's last month's order registering a suo moto PIL to explore the possibilities with regard to the implementation of 'open jails' in the state, the Chief Secretary of the State has apprised the division bench of Chief Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Ravindra Kumar Agrawal that the construction of an open jail with a capacity of 200 inmates at Patharra District Bemetara is likely to be completed by July 2024.

Apart from the open jail, the state government has also planned two special jails to lessen jail overcrowding: one at Bilaspur, with a capacity of 1500 inmates, and one in Raipur, with a capacity of 4000 inmates.

“The difference between the open jail at Bemetara and special jails in Bilaspur & Raipur is that for open jails inmates would be selected with stringent conditions whereas the special jails are planned to facilitate training of inmates for various professionals works like electrician,plumber sewing, carpentership, fabrication work, book binding, blacksmith, fisheries, pottery, cultivation of vegetables, dairy products and cultivation of their foodgrains. This is in order that they could make a living when they are released from jail,” the State's Chief Secy's affidavit reads.

The affidavit further states that the inmates are kept in open jail so that after their release from jail, they become self–dependent and can feel included in the mainstream of society.

These inmates are trained as electricians, plumbers, sewing, carpenters, fabrication work, bookbinding, blacksmiths, fisheries, pottery, and cultivation of vegetables, dairy products and food grains. The inmates can reform themselves to be accepted when they are released.

“That, an open jail happens to be a place where those convicts are placed who are reported to be of excellent nature during their stay in the jail. The convicts are not kept in confinement within the jail premises. The premises consists of substantial area. The security of the jail happens to be relaxed and mostly barbed wired are put as boundary. The inmates are allowed to stay in the accommodation,” the chief secy's affidavit adds.

The Court was also informed that there are as many as 19,476 Prisoners in the state; out of these, 1,843 prisoners are skilled professionals, 504 are senior citizens, and 4 attempted to escape.

In addition, 340 convicts were imprisoned for more than 20 years, and the Hon'ble Supreme Court dismissed their appeals.

In view of the affidavit sworn by the Chief Secretary of the State of Chhattisgarh, the Court directed that the matter be listed in the last week of July 2024. Meanwhile, the Chief Secretary may file an affidavit about further progress, the Court said.

Case No.: WP(PIL) No. 18 of 2024

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