Lok Sabha Question No. 245 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-07-18
Subject: Custodial Deaths
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: C.S. PUTTARAJU

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 245

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 18TH JULY,  2017 / ASHADHA 27, 1939 (SAKA)

## CUSTODIAL DEATHS

245. SHRI C.S. PUTTA RAJU:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether custodial deaths in different jails in the country have increased in the recent years;
- (b) if so, the details thereof during the last three years, State-wise;
- (c) whether the jails in the country are overcrowded;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the total number of new jails likely to be created by the Government during the year 2017-18?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

- (a)  &  (b)  National  Crime  Records  Bureau  has  collected  data  from  Prison Departments of State/UTs. State/UT-wise total deaths of inmates, natural deaths and unnatural deaths in jails during 2013-2015 is enclosed as Annexure-I. The data does not show any clear trend.
- (c)  & (d) As per data received from States/UTs,  occupancy rate of 114.4% (a total of 4,19,623 inmates against sanctioned strength of 3,66,781 inmates) was reported as on 31.12.2015.
- (e) 'Prisons' is a State subject as per Entry 4 of List II of the Seventh Schedule of the  Constitution  of  India.  The  administration  and  management  of  prisons  is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments.

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## Annexure - I

Statement showing the information in respect of part (a) & (b) of Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No.245 due for answer on 18-07-2017

## State/UT-wise total deaths of Inmates natural deaths & unnatural deaths in prisons during 2013-2015

| Sl.   | State/UT          |                | 2013            | 2013            | 2014           | 2014       | 2014             | 2015           | 2015            | 2015              |
|-------|-------------------|----------------|-----------------|-----------------|----------------|------------|------------------|----------------|-----------------|-------------------|
| No .  | State/UT          | Natural Deaths | Unnatural Death | Total (Col.3+4) | Natural Deaths | Unnatur al | Total (Col.6+ 7) | Natural Deaths | Unnatural Death | Total (Col.9+ 10) |
| (1)   | (2)               | (3)            | (4)             | (5)             | (6)            | Death (7)  | (8)              | (9)            | (10)            | (11)              |
| 1     | ANDHRA PRADESH    | 99             | 1               | 100             | 49             | 3          | 52               | 35             | 6               | 41                |
| 2     | ARUNACHAL PRADESH | 0              | 0               | 0               | 0              | 0          | 0                | 1              | 0               | 1                 |
| 3     | ASSAM             | 22             | 5               | 27              | 24             | 1          | 25               | 28             | 2               | 30                |
| 4     | BIHAR             | 83             | 3               | 86              | 96             | 6          | 102              | 83             | 1               | 84                |
| 5     | CHHATTISGARH      | 60             | 4               | 64              | 43             | 3          | 46               | 50             | 0               | 50                |
| 6     | GOA               | 0              | 0               | 0               | 2              | 0          | 2                | 1              | 0               | 1                 |
| 7     | GUJARAT           | 26             | 5               | 31              | 16             | 4          | 20               | 24             | 2               | 26                |
| 8     | HARYANA           | 39             | 9               | 48              | 32             | 10         | 42               | 44             | 2               | 46                |
| 9     | HIMACHAL PRADESH  | 3              | 0               | 3               | 3              | 1          | 4                | 5              | 2               | 7                 |
| 10    | JAMMU & KASHMIR   | 3              | 2               | 5               | 4              | 2          | 6                | 2              | 0               | 2                 |
| 11    | JHARKHAND         | 48             | 3               | 51              | 57             | 3          | 60               | 37             | 5               | 42                |
| 12    | KARNATAKA         | 73             | 4               | 77              | 78             | 15         | 93               | 65             | 11              | 76                |
| 13    | KERALA            | 51             | 3               | 54              | 42             | 5          | 47               | 41             | 2               | 43                |
| 14    | MADHYA PRADESH    | 102            | 9               | 111             | 122            | 6          | 128              | 131            | 4               | 135               |
| 15    | MAHARASHTRA       | 85             | 4               | 89              | 96             | 6          | 102              | 107            | 7               | 114               |
| 16    | MANIPUR           | 0              | 0               | 0               | 2              | 0          | 2                | 3              | 1               | 4                 |
| 17    | MEGHALAYA         | 1              | 0               | 1               | 2              | 0          | 2                | 4              | 1               | 5                 |
| 18    | MIZORAM           | 1              | 0               | 1               | 2              | 1          | 3                | 2              | 0               | 2                 |
| 19    | NAGALAND          | 1              | 0               | 1               | 6              | 1          | 7                | 0              | 0               | 0                 |
| 20    | ODISHA            | 44             | 2               | 46              | 43             | 44         | 87               | 43             | 2               | 45                |
| 21    | PUNJAB            | 160            | 9               | 169             | 218            | 12         | 230              | 173            | 5               | 178               |
| 22    | RAJASTHAN         | 53             | 11              | 64              | 33             | 12         | 45               | 56             | 2               | 58                |
| 23    | SIKKIM            | 3              | 0               | 3               | 0              | 0          | 0                | 0              | 0               | 0                 |
| 24    | TAMIL NADU        | 64             | 10              | 74              | 51             | 5          | 56               | 63             | 6               | 69                |
| 25    | TELANGANA         | 0              | 0               | 0               | 52             | 0          | 52               | 33             | 0               | 33                |
| 25    | TRIPURA           | 1              | 0               | 1               | 7              | 0          | 7                | 1              | 1               | 2                 |
| 26    | UTTAR PRADESH     | 340            | 18              | 358             | 298            | 23         | 321              | 302            | 21              | 323               |
| 27    | UTTARAKHAND       | 6              | 0               | 6               | 15             | 2          | 17               | 14             | 2               | 16                |
| 28    | WEST BENGAL       | 85             | 5               | 90              | 82             | 21         | 103              | 86             | 12              | 98                |
|       | TOTAL (STATES)    | 1453           | 107             | 1560            | 1475           | 186        | 1661             | 1434           | 97              | 1531              |
| 29    | A & N ISLANDS     | 1              | 0               | 1               | 0              | 0          | 0                | 1              | 2               | 3                 |
| 30    | CHANDIGARH        | 0              | 0               | 0               | 1              | 0          | 1                | 4              | 0               | 4                 |
| 31    | D & N HAVELI      | 0              | 0               | 0               | 0              | 0          | 0                | 0              | 0               | 0                 |
| 32    | DAMAN & DIU       | 0              | 0               | 0               | 0              | 0          | 0                | 0              | 0               | 0                 |
| 33    | DELHI             | 28             | 8               | 36              | 31             | 9          | 40               | 30             | 15              | 45                |
| 34    | LAKSHADWEEP       | 0              | 0               | 0               | 0              | 0          | 0                | 0              | 0               | 0                 |
| 35    | PUDUCHERRY        | 0              | 0               | 0               | 0              | 0          | 0                | 0              | 1               | 1                 |
|       | TOTAL (UTs)       | 29             | 8               | 37              | 32             | 9          | 41               | 35             | 18              | 53                |
|       | TOTAL (ALL-INDIA) | 1482           | 115             | 1597            | 1507           | 195        | 1702             | 1469           | 115             |                   |
|       |                   |                |                 |                 |                |            |                  |                |                 | 1584              |