Mizoram Govt Not Taking Effective Steps To Improve Prison Conditions Despite Availability Of Funds: Gauhati High Court

The Gauhati High Court recently granted four weeks to the State of Mizoram to clarify its position regarding the scheduled start and completion of work for improving the conditions of prisons in the State.

The division bench of Chief Justice Vijay Bishnoi and Justice Michael Zothankhuma sitting at Aizawl observed,

“We expect that the State Government shall come with a concrete proposal for execution of the works for improving the conditions of the prisons as per the assessment made by it.”

The Court was hearing a PIL seeking direction to repair or renovate the infrastructure of jail in each district in the State of Mizoram and to induct modern technology, methods and apparatus.

The plea further sought a direction to the State Government for the effective implementation of the State Advisory Board and Prison Development Board and to implement the Mizoram Prison Manual, 2017.

The Secretary, Home Department, Government of Mizoram submitted an additional affidavit on September 05, 2024, in which it mentioned that the State Government is taking necessary steps for the construction of jails in Mizoram. A document titled 'Overall Abstract of Cost' was also submitted with the said affidavit in relation to the number of works to be executed in eight prisons of the State of Mizoram. It was further submitted that as per the said assessment, a detailed project report will be prepared and administrative approval and expenditure sanction will be obtained.

The Court observed: “This PIL petition was filed way back in the year 2022 by the petitioner Organization raising concern about the condition of prisons in the State of Mizoram. It appears that on account of insistence of this Court from time to time, the Central Government has sanctioned a substantial amount to the State of Mizoram for improving the condition of the prisons.”

The Court remarked that despite the availability of funds, the State of Mizoram has not taken effective steps to improve the condition of the prisons and only paperwork is going on.

Thus, the Court granted four weeks time to the Mizoram Government to clarify when the proposed work for improving the conditions of the prisons in the State is scheduled to be started and by what time it would be completed.

Case Title: ZWO (Zofa Welfare Organization) v. The State of Mizoram & 4 Ors.

Case No.: PIL/3/2022

Click Here To Read/Download Order