SCHOOL OF LAW

CHRIST (DEEMED TO BE UNIVERSITY)

LEGAL AID AND AWARENESS COMMITTEE

OBSERVATORY REPORT: PRISON VISIT CONDUCTED ON 10TH AND 11TH

OCTOBER 2023

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OBSERVATIONS MADE

The batch of 2024 went on a Jail Visit to the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison and Correctional
Services on 10/10/2023 and 11/10/2023. They were accompanied by faculty members including
Dr. Jayanthi Bai H. L., Dr. Anto Sebastian, Dr. Gopi Ranga Nath V., Mr. Ashwin Kunal Singh,
Ms. Hema K, Dr. Chaitra B R, and Ms. Pavithra. The journey to the prison started at 9.45 am from
Christ (Deemed to be University), Bangalore. After a bus ride of about an hour, the students
reached the destination.

At the entrance, all the students lined up in front of the gate, waiting to be called in groups of ten.
At the entry, the right hand of all visiting students was stamped with a seal and thereafter, the
students proceeded to the screening of shoes and blazers followed by frisking for security
purposes. Thereafter, the students were taken into the prison compound in groups of about fifty
along with a prison authority and a faculty member.

The Men’s Prison compound was a spacious compound with the undertrial prisoners’ compound to
the left and convicted prisoners’ compound to the right. A hospital could be seen to the right upon
entry which is equipped with medical personnel and equipment for general treatment. Outside
these compounds, many facilities for day-to-day services exist which are run by the prisoners for
internal use and not for commercial purposes. Thereafter the students walked into a soap
manufacturing unit where soaps made by the prisoners were stocked in piles. Thereafter, they
visited the bakery where fresh hot bread was being made and stored in packets. The students then
had the opportunity to visit a printing unit where all the stationery that is used in the prison is
manufactured. Next, the students were escorted to the Textile unit, where all textiles and garments
for internal use by the prisoners were being manufactured. After that, the students moved into the
kitchen run by the prisoners wherein they cook food which is served to the prisoners. At the
entrance of the kitchen there is a blackboard with a comprehensive table that mentions the meal
plan for a week, the ingredients used and the portions served per person. The kitchen is segregated
into sections based on activity, such as sections for coffee and tea, rice preparation, sambar
preparation, grinding, storage of inventory etc.
Walking into the undertrial prisoners’ compound, the students were led into the library. On the
walls of the corridor which leads to the library, informative posters on Indian freedom fighters,

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maps, coins and currencies etc. were pasted. The library was neatly stocked with newspapers and
books of different kinds- academic, travelogues, biographies, novels, legal texts in various
languages etc. Thereafter, the students watched a mesmerizing instrumental music performance by
juveniles’ who are trained at Bengaluru Central Music School. Thereafter, all the students were led
back to the entrance of the compound, however, the female students were given the opportunity to
visit the women’s prison.

The women’s prison was a much smaller compound where no segregation existed between
undertrials and convicts. All were in the same block with a difference in outfits. The convicts wore
a white saree as their uniform whereas the undertrials had no uniform. There was a room with
bedding for the sick, and another room next to it where the prisoners could attend virtual court
proceedings. Several women were engaged in making flower garlands and scented candles, the
finished products were kept inside a small storeroom in the prison. The students had the
opportunity to speak and interact with the jailor, who threw light upon some cases of prisoners
being charged with offences of murder and drug possession. At the end of the visit, the students
clicked pictures with the faculty and left for their buses, where refreshments were distributed. By
around 3 pm, all students reached back to campus.

SUGGESTIONS

While the Bangalore Central Prison is a spacious compound, it was observed that the prison ground
was uneven and had a muddy surface, which makes it unsuitable for any recreational activities. It
was much appreciated by the final-year students that the prison aims at achieving self-sufficiency.
However, it could be noted that the prisoners working in food manufacturing units like the bakery
and the kitchen were short of wearing gloves and hair nets to ensure a hygienic environment.

Additionally, it was observed that the prison kitchen is powered by LPG cylinders. It is therefore
suggested that the prison being a mega kitchen could use renewable sources like solar energy or
bioenergy to power its kitchen. Such renewable forms of energy are being used in mega kitchens
like Adamya Chetana, ISCKON, to name a few. The visit to the printing and textile unit was
laudable, as it indicated a great initiative towards sustainability. However, it was observed that in

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the textile unit, the prisoners were not using any industrial-grade mask to protect from the lint
generated during the process. Furthermore, upon the female students' visit to the Women’s prison,
it was observed that it was far more congested when compared to the male prison. There were not
many recreational or rehabilitative programs organized for the prisoners. On the whole, the visit to
the central prison was insightful and fruitful as it gave the students a peep into the workings of a
prison.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS ON THE RATIO OF PRISONER TO THE AUTHORITIES

The National Crime Records Bureau, operating under the aegis of the Ministry of Home Affairs,
has disseminated the 'Prison Statistics India 2021' report. This comprehensive report
encompasses data for the period spanning 1st January 2021 to 31st December 2021, shedding light
on diverse facets of the penal system, which includes categories of prisons, incarcerated
individuals, and the professional cadre serving within these institutions. Of particular
significance is the data pertaining to prison personnel and their training programs, (Annexure A)
which proffers valuable insights into the inmate-to-staff ratio. The ensuing exposition offers a
concise synopsis of the said statistics on this critical parameter.

Number Of Inmates

There are a total of 5,54,034 inmates in the entire country, out of which 5,29,090 inmates are
imprisoned in the States and 24,944 are imprisoned in the Union Territories. The highest
number of inmates are imprisoned in the state of Uttar Pradesh with a total of 1,17,789
prisoners, while Arunachal Pradesh has the least number of prisoners at 251 inmates.
Karnataka houses 15,473 inmates.

Jail Officials

The total count of staff employed across the entire nation stands at 54,955, with 52,025 dedicated
to service within the states and an additional 2,930 within the Union Territories. Notably, Uttar
Pradesh claims the highest staffing numbers, boasting 7,958 jail officials. This translates to a
noteworthy statistic where the ratio of jail officials to inmates stands at 1:14. The least number
of jail officials employed is in the state of Sikkim, in which the ratio of jail staff members to
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inmates stands at 1:5. The ratio in Karnataka is 1:5, wherein it employs 2,850 jail officials. The
highest ratio of jail officials to inmates can be found in the state of Jharkhand with a ratio of
1:23, while the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland have a perfect ratio of
1:1.

The Model Prison Manual circulated by the Government of India in 2003 provides for the prison
staff-inmate ratio of 1:6. Furthermore, chapter XXVII of the manual provides that cadre strength
of various categories of personnel should be fixed in accordance with the needs of the
department.
Apart from the states of Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Himachal Pradesh,
Karnataka, Kerala, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana
and Tripura, all the other States have exceeded the ratio as prescribed by the Government. In
addition, only three Union Territories of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Ladakh and Puducherry
are in compliance with the same.

In conclusion, this report serves as an illuminating resource, offering a comprehensive overview

of the Indian penal system. It provides valuable insights into the number of inmates and the
allocation of prison personnel across states and Union Territories. Notably, Uttar Pradesh
emerges as a central figure, both in terms of the number of inmates it houses, and the highest
number of jail officials employed. The state’s ratio of 1:14 underlines the significance of prison
management. The 2003 Manual prescribes for the ratio to be 1:6, while Uttar Pradesh’s ratio is
much higher than the mandate. Karnataka’s balance of 2,850 jail officials for 15,473 inmates
demonstrates a pragmatic staffing ratio, while Jharkhand’s 1:23 ratio reveals a potential
challenge in terms of administration and being non-compliant with Governmental guidelines.
These statistics offer valuable insights into the complex dynamics of India’s prison system with
only 50% of the states and 30% of the Union Territories regulating the prisons as per the Manual
prescribed by the Government of India.

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 ANNEXURE A

Sl No. State Total No. No. of Staff No. of Inmates

of Inmates Per Jail
Official
1 Andhra Pradesh 7950 1572 5
2 Arunachal Pradesh 251 135 1
3 Assam 10079 651 15
4 Bihar 66879 3823 17
5 Chhattisgarh 20061 1495 13
6 Goa 551 141 3
7 Gujarat 16597 2068 8
8 Haryana 24158 2369 10
9 Himachal Pradesh 2876 512 5
10 Jharkhand 21257 907 23
11 Karnataka 15473 2850 5
12 Kerala 7111 1921 3
13 Madhya Pradesh 48513 4994 9
14 Maharashtra 36853 3711 9
15 Manipur 611 336 1
16 Meghalaya 1089 156 6
17 Mizoram 1116 245 4
18 Nagaland 500 434 1
19 Odisha 20804 1737 11
20 Punjab 26146 1988 13

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21 Rajasthan 22938 2936 7
22 Sikkim 434 83 5
23 Tamil Nadu 18015 3787 4
24 Telangana 7316 1094 6
25 Tripura 1033 340 3
26 Uttar Pradesh 117789 7958 14
27 Uttarakhand 6921 538 12
28 West Bengal 25769 3244 7
Total 529090 52025

Sl No. Union Territory Total No. of No. of Staff No. of Inmates

Inmates Per Jail Official
1 A & N Islands 267 59 4
2 Chandigarh 897 127 7
3 DNH & Daman Diu 185 16 11
4 Delhi 18295 2049 8
5 J&K 4970 575 8
6 Ladakh 20 10 2
7 Lakshadweep 5 0 0
8 Puducherry 305 94 3
9 Total 24944 2930
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Total (All India) 554034 54955