Lok Sabha Question No. 232 (STARRED), answered on 2016-08-02
Subject: Unnatural Deaths of Prisoners
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: SATISH KUMAR GAUTAM, KRISHNAN NARAYANASAMY RAMACHANDRAN

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.†*232

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 2 ND  AUGUST, 2016/SHRAVANA 11, 1938 (SAKA)

UNNATURAL DEATHS OF PRISONERS

†*232. SHRI SATISH KUMAR GAUTAM: SHRI K.N. RAMACHANDRAN:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether incidents of deaths/unnatural deaths of prisoners have been reported in the Central and other jails in the country;

(b) if so, the total number of such cases reported separately, responsible officials arrested and the action taken against them during the last three years and the current year, State-wise;

(c)  whether there is shortage of staff and doctors in various jails in the country and if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;

(d)  whether the Supreme Court has expressed concern over the pitiable conditions of prisons and the prisoners and unnatural deaths of prisoners in various jails and if so, the details thereof along with the action taken by the Government in this regard; and

(e) the other corrective steps taken by the Government in this regard?

ANSWER

MINISTER IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI RAJNATH SINGH)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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## STATEMENT  REFFERED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  THE  LOK  SABHA  STARRED QUESTION NO.*232 FOR 02.08.2016.

(a) & (b): 'Prisons'  is  a  State  subject  as  per  entry  4  of  List  II  of  the Seventh  Schedule  to  the  Constitution  of  India.  The  administration  and management  of  prisons is primarily the responsibility of the State Governments.  As  per  data  compiled  by  National  Crime  Records  Bureau (NCRB)  at  the  end  of  2012,  2013  and  2014,  a  State/UT  wise  statement showing number of natural and unnatural deaths is enclosed at Annexure-I.

The  data  on  number  of  officials  arrested  and  action  taken  against them are not maintained centrally by NCRB.

(c):    As  per  data  compiled  by  National  Crime  Records  Bureau  (NCRB) at the  end  of  2014,  as  against  the  sanctioned  strength  of  79988  jail  staff, 52666 personnel including doctors are working, the details of which are at Annexure II.

.....3/

## L.S.S.Q.NO.*232 FOR 02.08.216

(d) to (e): The matter has been taken up by the Supreme Court in the Suo Moto  writ  petition(Civil)  no  406/2013-  'Inhuman  Conditions  prevailing  in 1382  prisons'.      The  Government  has  brought  out  a  new  Model  Prison Manual 2016 which has been circulated to all States/UTs with the advice for  implementing  it  with  special  emphasis  on  standardization  of  prison administration and to reduce overcrowding etc. Government of India has also  issued  a  comprehensive  advisory  dated  17 th   July  2009  on  Prison Administration  which  also  lays  emphasis  on  ensuring  proper  medical facilities, correctional and welfare measures for inmates to alleviate their anxieties to prevent self harm.

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## PAGE 1 OF 1 OF ANNEXURE-I

## Annexure referred to in part (b) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. †*232 for answer on 02.08.2016

| S.No   | States/UTs        | Deaths of inmates in 2012   | Deaths of inmates in 2012   | Deaths of inmates in 2013   | Deaths of inmates in 2013   | Deaths of inmates in 2014   | Deaths of inmates in 2014   |
|--------|-------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------|
| S.No   | States/UTs        | Natural                     | Unnatural                   | Natural                     | Unnatural                   | Natural                     | Unnatural                   |
| 1      | Andhra Pradesh    | 74                          | 12                          | 99                          | 1                           | 49                          | 3                           |
| 2      | Arunachal Pradesh | 0                           | 0                           | 0                           | 0                           | 0                           | 0                           |
| 3      | Assam             | 25                          | 4                           | 22                          | 5                           | 24                          | 1                           |
| 4      | Bihar             | 93                          | 13                          | 83                          | 3                           | 96                          | 6                           |
| 5      | Chhattisgarh      | 65                          | 2                           | 60                          | 4                           | 43                          | 3                           |
| 6      | Goa               | 2                           | 0                           | 0                           | 0                           | 2                           | 0                           |
| 7      | Gujarat           | 23                          | 2                           | 26                          | 5                           | 16                          | 4                           |
| 8      | Haryana           | 46                          | 6                           | 39                          | 9                           | 32                          | 10                          |
| 9      | Himachal Pradesh  | 4                           | 1                           | 3                           | 0                           | 3                           | 1                           |
| 10     | Jammu & Kashmir   | 4                           | 0                           | 3                           | 2                           | 4                           | 2                           |
| 11     | Jharkhand         | 41                          | 2                           | 48                          | 3                           | 57                          | 3                           |
| 12     | Karnataka         | 62                          | 7                           | 73                          | 4                           | 78                          | 15                          |
| 13     | Kerala            | 30                          | 2                           | 51                          | 3                           | 42                          | 5                           |
| 14     | Madhya Pradesh    | 96                          | 3                           | 102                         | 9                           | 122                         | 6                           |
| 15     | Maharashtra       | 75                          | 3                           | 85                          | 4                           | 96                          | 6                           |
| 16     | Manipur           | 0                           | 0                           | 0                           | 0                           | 2                           | 0                           |
| 17     | Meghalaya         | 0                           | 0                           | 1                           | 0                           | 2                           | 0                           |
| 18     | Mizoram           | 1                           | 0                           | 1                           | 0                           | 2                           | 1                           |
| 19     | Nagaland          | 0                           | 0                           | 1                           | 0                           | 6                           | 1                           |
| 20     | Odisha            | 43                          | 7                           | 44                          | 2                           | 43                          | 44                          |
| 21     | Punjab            | 120                         | 17                          | 160                         | 9                           | 218                         | 12                          |
| 22     | Rajasthan         | 35                          | 15                          | 53                          | 11                          | 33                          | 12                          |
| 23     | Sikkim            | 0                           | 0                           | 3                           | 0                           | 0                           | 0                           |
| 24     | Tamil Nadu        | 54                          | 8                           | 64                          | 10                          | 51                          | 5                           |
| 25     | Telangana         | --                          | --                          | --                          | --                          | 52                          | 0                           |
| 26     | Tripura           | 1                           | 0                           | 1                           | 0                           | 7                           | 0                           |
| 27     | Uttar Pradesh     | 344                         | 12                          | 340                         | 18                          | 298                         | 23                          |
| 28     | Uttarakhand       | 8                           | 0                           | 6                           | 0                           | 15                          | 2                           |
| 29     | West Bengal       | 81                          | 7                           | 85                          | 5                           | 82                          | 21                          |
| 30     | A & N Islands     | 1                           | 0                           | 1                           | 0                           | 0                           | 0                           |
| 31     | Chandigarh        | 2                           | 0                           | 0                           | 0                           | 1                           | 0                           |
| 32     | D & N Haveli      | 0                           | 0                           | 0                           | 0                           | 0                           | 0                           |
| 33     | Daman & Diu       | 0                           | 0                           | 0                           | 0                           | 0                           | 0                           |
| 34     | Delhi             | 15                          | 3                           | 28                          | 8                           | 31                          | 9                           |
| 35     | Lakshadweep       | 0                           | 0                           | 0                           | 0                           | 0                           | 0                           |
| 36     | Puducherry        | 0                           | 0                           | 0                           | 0                           | 0                           | 0                           |
|        | Total             | 1345                        | 126                         | 1482                        | 115                         | 1507                        | 195                         |

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## PAGE 1 OF 1 OF ANNEXURE-II

## Annexure referred to in part (c) of Lok Sabha Starred Question No. †*232 for answer on 2.8.2016

## SANCTIONED AND ACTUAL STRENGTH OF JAILS OFFICERS/STAFF ON 31ST DECEMBER 2014

| S/No.              | Post                                                | Sanctioned         | Actual             |
|--------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|--------------------|--------------------|
| Officers           | Officers                                            | Officers           | Officers           |
| 1                  | DG/Addl. IG/IG/Addl. IG/DIG/Suptd                   | 637                | 450                |
| 2                  | Dy SP/Jailor/Dy. Jailor/Asstt. Jailor/Asstt. Supdt. | 4906               | 3073               |
| 3                  | Others                                              | 1026               | 885                |
| Jail Cadre Staff   | Jail Cadre Staff                                    | Jail Cadre Staff   | Jail Cadre Staff   |
| 1                  | Head Warder/Head Matron                             | 9089               | 7071               |
| 2                  | Warder/Matron                                       | 47980              | 30572              |
| 3                  | Others                                              | 2272               | 1565               |
| Correctional Staff | Correctional Staff                                  | Correctional Staff | Correctional Staff |
| 1                  | Probation Officer/Welfare Officer                   | 409                | 237                |
| 2                  | Psychologist/Psychiatrist                           | 51                 | 18                 |
| 3                  | Social Worker/Others                                | 465                | 333                |
| Medical Staff      | Medical Staff                                       | Medical Staff      | Medical Staff      |
| 1                  | Resident Medical Officer/Medical Officer            | 1159               | 589                |
| 2                  | Pharmacist                                          | 900                | 665                |
| 3                  | Lab Technician/Lab Attendant                        | 223                | 156                |
| 4                  | Others                                              | 677                | 422                |
| Ministerial Staff  | Ministerial Staff                                   | Ministerial Staff  | Ministerial Staff  |
| 1                  | Officer                                             | 235                | 182                |
| 2                  | Other Non-Gazetted Staff                            | 5414               | 3630               |
| 3                  | Other Not included in above category                | 4545               | 2818               |
| Total              |                                                     | 79988              | 52666              |

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