Nasir Azam
Srinagar, Sep 27: The administration of Jammu & Kashmir has unveiled a new jail manual for superintendence and management of prisons in the Union Territory.
Sources in J&K’s Home department disclosed that the new jail manual has come into effect from August 17, 2022.
“The Prison Manual- 2022 has superseded the manual for the superintendence and management of jails in the State of J&K- 2000” they said, adding that the new manual was notified by the Home department vide statutory order number 381 on August 17, 2022.
The jail manual contains detailed guidelines and instructions for superintendence and management of prisons in J&K Union Territory.
At present, there are 14 functional prisons in Jammu & Kashmir which includes two central jails, 10 district jails, one special jail and one sub- jail. Against lodgement capacity of 3629 inmates, J&K prisons house more than 5000 inmates.
It is worthwhile to mention that the Jammu & Kashmir High Court had repeatedly pulled up the government for delay in finalization of upgraded jail manual.
In February 2019, the court was informed by the state government that the draft jail manual was before a committee for examination.
On April 19, 2019, the High Court was informed by J&K government that delay in the finalization of the Jail Manual was due to preoccupation of the Home department with polling in the erstwhile State.
