Bhubaneswar, March 31: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has highlighted major concerns in prison administration across Odisha, particularly pointing to overcrowding of inmates and alarming security deficiencies in jails.
The findings come from a Subject Specific Compliance Audit (SSCA) on Prison Administration covering the period from 2020-21 to 2022-23. The audit examined infrastructure, inmate accommodation, healthcare, sanitation, and reform measures for prisoners.
Overcrowding remains a persistent issue
Despite some increase in prison accommodation capacity over the past three years, overcrowding continues to plague the system. As of March 2023, 87 jails housed a total of 18,862 inmates, out of which 31 jails were operating beyond their capacity. This indicates a significant strain on prison infrastructure and resources, affecting living conditions and management efficiency.
The situation is further exacerbated by delays in infrastructure projects. For instance, construction of a Special Sub-Jail in Bhadrak, approved as far back as 2012, remains incomplete. Although ₹11.51 crore was released in 2014, only ₹2.16 crore had been spent as of December 2023, with work on a 180-capacity male ward still pending.
Acute shortage of guarding staff
The audit also revealed a serious shortage of prison guarding staff. Against a sanctioned strength of 1,680 personnel across 75 jails, only 1,282 were in position as of March 2023. This represents a shortfall ranging from 6.67% to as high as 41.67%, weakening prison security and supervision.
Security lapses and contraband seizures
Critical security infrastructure such as CCTV cameras, door frame metal detectors, and baggage scanners were found either missing or non-functional in many prisons. The consequences of these lapses are evident.
In the Special Jail at Bhubaneswar, 46 search operations conducted between 2020 and 2023 led to the seizure of 74 mobile phones, 56 SIM cards, a pen drive, 26 empty liquor bottles, and 1.76 kg of ganja. Similarly, in the District Jail at Balasore, authorities recovered two mobile phones and 1.19 kg of ganja during search operations between March and December 2021.
Prison escapes raise alarm
Security weaknesses have also resulted in prisoner escapes. The report documented 29 instances of inmates escaping from jails during the three-year period, attributed mainly to inadequate staffing and lack of proper watchtower deployment.
Poor healthcare facilities
The healthcare system within prisons was found to be inadequate, with shortages of medical staff across all prison hospitals. Except for limited facilities such as a minor operation theatre and physiotherapy unit in Berhampur and psychiatric services in Choudwar, most prisons lacked essential clinical infrastructure.
In a concerning violation of established norms, the audit noted that 121 mentally ill inmates were housed with the general prison population as of March 31, 2023. This contravenes provisions of the Prisoners Act, guidelines of the National Human Rights Commission, and relevant prison rules, which mandate segregation and specialized care.
