Lok Sabha Question No. 3987 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-20
Subject: Non-official Visitors to Prisons
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: KIRIT PREMJIBHAI SOLANKI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3987

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 20 TH  MARCH, 2018 /PHALGUNA 29, 1939 (SAKA)

NON-OFFICIAL VISITORS TO PRISONS

3987. DR. KIRIT P. SOLANKI:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)the steps taken by the States to implement the advisory of Ministry of Home Affairs  issued  in  2011  for  appointment  of  'concerned  citizens'  as Non-Official Visitors (NOVs) to prisons;

- (b) the details of the States that have Board of Visitors (BOVs) constituted in all their jails;
- (c) the total number of jail visits by NOVs since January 2017, State-wise;
- (d) whether the Government  provides or proposes to provide any assistance  to  the  States  for  training  the  NOVs  and  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (e)  the  details  of  the  mechanism  put  in  place  by  the  Government  to monitor the working of BOVs and NOVs?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a) to (e):  The Ministry of Home Affairs had issued an advisory to all States and UTs in 2011 informing them that the prison visiting system relating to Non-Official Visitors (NoVs) needs to be streamlined. The Prison authorities were advised that individuals who are selected as NoVs should have sufficient knowledge and expertise in areas of prison reforms, legal rights, social work, adult education etc.  The prison authorities have been

## L.S.US.Q NO. 3987 FOR 20.03.2018

informed that guidelines for Interviewers and NoVs have been prepared by the  Bureau  of  Police  Research  and  Development  and  these  should  be provided to the Superintendents of all Jails.  The Prison authorities were further  advised  that  Non-official  Visitors  must  be  sensitised  and  trained about their duties, role and responsibilities.  Prison authorities have been advised that sensitisation and training programmes have to be organised by the Prison headquarters in association with Regional Training Institutes.  They have also been advised to hold workshops of NoVs across the State by the State Prison Training Institute for sharing experiences and learnings and documentation of good practices models.  States have been advised that DG/IG (Prisons) should obtain six monthly reports from prison superintendents about the regularity of visits and the nature of work done by  NOVs.    The  Board  of  Visitors  (BoVs)  are  required  to  submit  quarterly reports  to  State  Governments  under  intimation  to  State  Human  Rights Commission.

A dedicated chapter on Board of Visitors (BoVs) has also been provided in the Model Prison Manual 2016 which has been circulated to all States and UTs for their guidance.

Information  on  BoVs  constituted  in  jails  and  visits  by  NoVs  are  not maintained centrally.

## L.S.US.Q NO. 3987 FOR 20.03.2018

Sensitization  and  training  programmes  on  various  aspects  of  prison administration,  including  guidance  to  officials  regarding  BoVs  and  NoVs, are  integral  part  of  the  training  modules  conducted  by  State  Prison Departments,  Bureau  of  Police  Research  and  Development  and  Regional Correctional Institutes.

The Ministry of Home Affairs has recently taken up the issue of BoVs and NoVs  with  State  Governments  and  has  advised  them  to  take  following actions:

- a) issue appropriate directions regarding criteria of appointment, training  and  functioning  of  Non-Official  Visitors  based  on  MHA's advisory issued in 2011.
- b) ensure that Board of Visitors  is constituted for each prison as also directed  by  Hon'ble  Supreme  Court  of  India  in  the  case  titled 'Inhuman Conditions in 1382 Prisons'.
- c) formulate  mechanisms  to  conduct  regular  internal  inspections  of prisons.

Since Prisons is a State subject, it is for respective State Governments to monitor these issues on a regular basis.

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