Kerala High Court Directs Time-Bound Completion Of E-Prison Portal After Stakeholder Brainstorming

The Bench directed that after training, all prisons must complete data entry across relevant modules within two weeks. Importantly, each Superintendent or Officer-in-Charge of every jail has been directed to file an independent affidavit certifying that all fields have been accurately populated and that no data field remains blank or non-functional and similar affidavits are to be filed by each DLSA Secretary.

The NIC team has been directed to demonstrate the fully operational portal before the Court on 01-04-2026, with all modules activated and data populated across prisons and DLSAs in Kerala.

A Division Bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan V and Justice K.V. Jayakumar considered the various issues raised by KeLSA in the matter initiated pursuant to directions of the Supreme Court concerning undertrial prisoners who continued to languish in jails despite being granted bail due to their inability to satisfy conditions. “We are of the view that, in order to ensure that the benefits of the e-Prison module are made available to all prisoners languishing in the jails across the State of Kerala, there has to be a coordinated and institutionalised effort between all stakeholders, including the Courts, the Prison Department, the National Informatics Centre (NIC), the Police Department and KeLSA”, it observed.

Pertinently, during earlier proceedings, when KeLSA attempted to access the e-Prison portal using official credentials, the Court recorded “to its dismay” that the system was virtually non-functional and failed to generate any meaningful output, prompting further corrective directions.

T. A. Shaji, Director General of Prosecution appeared for the respondent.

The Bench also considered a revised Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) dated 04-02-2026 prepared by KeLSA for implementing the “Support to Poor Prisoners Scheme”. The Court observed that the revised SOP appeared “far more comprehensive, progressive and beneficial” than the existing Government Order dated 02-04-2024.

Taking note of submissions that the revised SOP incorporates Union Government guidelines along with additional prisoner-friendly safeguards evolved after extensive stakeholder consultations, the Court directed that the modified SOP be operationalised at the earliest, and in any event within one month.

On the technological front, the Court directed the NIC (Kerala and Delhi units) to ensure that all modules and data fields of the e-Prison portal are fully developed, integrated, and made operational within two weeks from 13-02-2026. A detailed compliance report must be filed by 27-02-2026, along with a live demonstration before the Court.

The Prison Department has been directed to extend full cooperation, with senior officials familiar with the Kerala Prison Manual participating in coordination meetings to ensure that modules reflect ground realities. KeLSA is also required to actively assist in ensuring that legal aid and prisoners’ rights dimensions are adequately addressed.

The Court recognising that mere activation of modules would not suffice, ordered that physical, in-person training sessions be conducted for prison data-entry operators, jail officials, KeLSA representatives, and Secretaries of District Legal Services Authorities (DLSAs). Jail-wise and DLSA-wise attendance lists must be filed before the Court, it further directed.

The Court even clarified that consolidated affidavits by the State Government would not suffice. Any delay or failure to adhere to timelines must be explained through personal affidavits, failing which the Court would view the matter seriously.

Cause Title: Suo Motu v. State of Kerala & Ors. WP(CRL.) NO. 867 OF 2024(S)

Appearances:

Respondents: T. A. Shaji, Director General of Prosecution, P. Narayanan, Additional Public Prosecutor & Sajju .S, Senior Public Prosecutor, Leo Lukose, O.M. Shalina, Deputy Solicitor General of India, Suvin R. Menon & S. Krishna, Central Government Counsels, Advocates.