The Allahabad High Court has directed the Director General (Prisons), U.P., Lucknow to examine all the issues raised in a plea relating to reforms in jails and the manner in which jails are being administered.

The plea alleged that jail officials posted in different jails in the State have not been transferred in some cases for more than seven years. It further adds that in some cases, despite transfer orders having already been passed several years back, the incumbents had not been relieved leading to unfair practices and corruption.

The Public Interest Litigation raised the issue concerning reforms in jails as also for adherence to policy of transfer of Group-C and Group-D employees who are posted in district jails so that they do not get personally involved with prisoners who have been serving sentence or are serving incarceration for long duration.

The bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta and Justice Syed Qamar Hasan Rizvi heard the matter.

Advocate Shardendu Mishra appeared for the petitioner whereas Advocate Santosh Kumar Srivastava appeared for the State.

The Court noted that a counter affidavit has been filed in the case by the Senior Superintendent, Central Jail, Naini, wherein it is sought to be explained how the transfer policy is being implemented.

However, the Court did not find the affidavit to be satisfactory.

“…we do not find the affidavit to be satisfactory and therefore require the Director General (Prisons), U.P., Lucknow to examine all the issues raised in the writ petition and file his affidavit covering all the issues on or before the next date.”, the Court ordered.

Cause Title- - Sachidanand v. State of U.P. & Another

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Allahabad High CourtJustice Manoj Kumar GuptaJustice Syed Qamar Hasan Rizvi

Ashish Shaji