Parliamentary panel raises concerns for Indian prison system

On Tuesday, the Parliamentary Standing Committee for Home Affairs assembled to discuss initiatives aimed at reforming the prison system. Discussions in the meeting centred around the conditions of jails in Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi, as well as strategies for improvement. The meeting also included the presence of senior officials from Tihar Jail who were summoned to attend. During the meeting, committee members raised numerous inquiries regarding the inadequate safety and security measures in Tihar Jail and other correctional facilities.

As per an attendee of the meeting, a Congress member directly questioned the top officials of Tihar Jail, who were present at the meeting. The member inquired about the provision of extensive facilities to a high-profile prisoner currently incarcerated in the jail, expressing concern over the circumstances surrounding it. During the parliamentary committee session, a member inquired about the actions being taken by the Tihar Jail authorities in relation to the Tillu Tajpuria murder case. In response, a jail officer stated that measures would be taken to address the incident, including taking action against the policemen involved and implementing preventive measures to avoid similar occurrences in the future.

Additionally, the committee also addressed concerns regarding the controversial incident involving Satyendra Jain, a former minister and AAP leader from Delhi, receiving a massage while in Tihar Jail. The issue of murders within Tihar Jail was also a matter of concern raised during the committee meeting. Sources present at the meeting revealed that numerous inquiries were raised by committee members regarding past incidents reported from Tihar Jail. These inquiries encompassed various topics, including the circulation of photographs showing former Delhi minister Satyendra Jain receiving a body massage while in custody at Tihar Jail.

A committee member expressed their view that such incidents have a detrimental impact on India's international reputation and raise doubts about prison security. This statement seemingly alluded to cases involving Indian fugitives like Vijay Mallya, who are attempting to avoid extradition in UK courts by citing concerns over the security standards in Indian jails.