Rights
monitor
Non
Official Jail Visitors
Powerful
mechanism to monitor jail
Apart
from the official visitors, there is also a provision
to appoint non-official visitors to oversee the situation
in the jail, to see that the rules and orders are properly
followed and to see that the rights of the inmates are
ensured. In the absence of an independent monitoring body,
these non-official jail visitors can, in fact, play the
role as they have the power to visit the jail at any time,
talk to the prisoners, see the relevant papers and recommend
relevant action.
Appointment
of the non-official visitors
The non-official jail visitors are appointed by official
notification by the respective district commi{sioners.
Gentlemen and ladies of position who are likely to take
an interest in the welfare of the prisoners and are willing
accept this duty, are appointed as non-official jail visitors.
The general practice is that members of the civil society-teacher{,
lawyers and parliament members are appointed.
Number
of non-official visitors
*
Six gentlemen and four ladies for central jails
* Three gentlemen and two ladies for district jails
* Two gentlemen and one lady for subsidiary jails
Term
of the non-official visitors
The non-official visitors are appointed for a period of
two years and are eligible for reappointment on the expiry
of each term so long as he/she is fit and willing to serve,
unless his/her appointment has been cancelled under the
rule of the Jail Code.
Cancellation
of appointment
The appointment of any non-official jail visitor, who
is not an ex-officio visitor, may be cancelled by the
authority appointing him/her within the period of his/her
tezm for failure to visit the jail for a continuous period
of three months or non-attendance at two consecutive quarterly
meetings of the Board of Visitors or for other sufficient
reasons.
Powers
of the jail visitors
Jail visitors may call for all books, papers and records
of every departments of the jail, but the superintending
may decline to produce any book, paper or record for the
inspection of a non official visitor, if for reasons to
be recorded in writing he considers its production undesirable.
Duties
of the jail visitors
Visitors should, if possible, visit every yard, ward,
workshop and cell, except those in which detenus, State
prisoners, or Division I prisoners are confined, see every
prisoner except detenus, State prisoners, or Division
I prisoners in confinement at the time of their visit.
In every cise of complaint madm to the jail vi{itors,
they sho}ld enquire what the rules in force are, and whether
these are observed or not and they should a{certain generally
whether rules and orders are adhered to. They should examine
the punishment register and see that suitable punishments
have been awarded, and that they are properly recorded.
On arrival at the jail they should muster the reserve
guard and see that the full number of men required by
rules is present, fully armed and equipped.
Courtesy:
Odhikar.
Photo:
Star
