Himachal Pradesh prisons overcrowded by 30%, undertrials two-thirds

The Himachal Pradesh government informed the Legislative Assembly on Monday that the state prisons are overcrowded by nearly 30 per cent, with 3,355 inmates lodged against a sanctioned capacity of 2,580. The figures were provided by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu in a written reply to a starred question raised by Shahpur MLA Keval Singh Pathania, who sought details on prison capacity, inmate classification, medical facilities, NDPS prisoners and proposed expansion of prison infrastructure.

According to the government, the state’s 14 prison facilities currently house 1,113 convicts, 2,203 undertrials and 39 civil or preventive detainees. The data indicates that undertrials account for nearly two-thirds of the total prison population, highlighting the pressure on the state’s correctional infrastructure.

Specific Overcrowded Facilities

Several prisons are operating substantially above their sanctioned capacity. Model Central Jail, Nahan, has 553 inmates against a capacity of 471, while Model Central Jail, Kanda, houses 530 against a capacity of 438.

The Lala Lajpat Rai District and Open Home, Dharamshala, has 552 inmates against a sanctioned capacity of 355, making it one of the most overcrowded facilities in the state. District Jail, Mandi, has 270 inmates against a capacity of only 95, while District Jail, Kullu, has 76 inmates against a sanctioned capacity of 33.

District Jail Kinnaur houses 237 inmates against a capacity of 183, while District Jail Chamba has 193 inmates against a capacity of 147. Other facilities also reported inmate populations above their sanctioned capacities, including Sub Jail Nurpur, District Jail Solan, District Jail Una and Sub Jail Nalagarh.

NDPS Convicts and Prison Policy

Responding to questions concerning prisoners convicted under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, the government said such convicts cannot be transferred to Open Air Jails under existing provisions. The government said the Himachal Pradesh Prison Manual, 2021, along with the applicable standard operating procedures, prohibits the transfer of NDPS convicts to Open Air Jails.

New Drug Testing Laboratories

The government also informed the Assembly that approvals have been given for establishing three additional Drug Testing Laboratories at Nurpur in Kangra, Baddi in Solan and Una. The move is aimed at decentralising drug-testing facilities, which are currently centred around the primary laboratory at Junga.

Medical Facilities and Staffing

The government said four dedicated Medical Officer posts are currently filled at Model Central Jail Nahan, Model Central Jail Kanda, District Jail Dharamshala and Open Air Jail Bilaspur. At other prisons, doctors from nearby regional hospitals visit the facilities according to a roster. Prisoners requiring specialised treatment are referred to regional hospitals or medical colleges, the government said.

Proposed High-Security Prison

On the issue of establishing a dedicated high-security prison in Himachal Pradesh, the government said a decision would be taken at an appropriate time.

The government’s response comes amid growing pressure on prison infrastructure, with the current inmate population exceeding the sanctioned capacity by 775 inmates. The figures placed before the Assembly underline the scale of overcrowding across Himachal’s correctional facilities, particularly at Dharamshala, Mandi, Kullu, Nahan and Kanda. (ANI)

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Asianet Newsable English staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)