Supreme Court verdict: Over 4000 UTPs may walk free

Times of India: Bhubaneswar: Sunday, 07 September 2014.

The Supreme Court's landmark verdict on Friday to release undertrial prisoners (UTPs), who have served half their maximum sentence they would receive if found guilty, will provide much-needed relief to thousands of undertrials in the state. It will also ease congestion in most of the jails.

Over 76% of the total 14,000 prisoners in Odisha jails are undertrials, information obtained using Right to Information (RTI) Act reveals. More than 11,000 are undertrials, information provided by directorate of prisons and correctional services said. According to the information obtained by RTI campaigner Pradip Pradhan, the prisoners are languishing in 91 prisons.

Government sources said at least 40% of undertrials (around 4,400) have already completed half the maximum term for the crime they are charged with.

Choudwar jail has a capacity to accommodate 552 prisoners, but on Friday 850 prisoners were packed like sardines and of these, 500 are undertrials. Due to overcrowding, the inmates are forced to live in pitiable conditions inside the jail.

Choudwar jail superintendent Niranjan Das feels the apex court's order will help make life in jail better. "The verdict will definitely help ease pressure on infrastructure in jails," he said.

The jail has a sanctioned strength of 106 guarding staff. Only 88 of them are in position while the other posts are lying vacant. Similarly, of five assistant jailor and five sub-assistant jailor posts, at least 50% posts have been lying vacant for last so many years.

Due to acute shortage of staff, the jail authorities are facing a difficult time in managing the affairs in the jail. Release of undertrials will help reduce burden on the jail.

The circle jail in Berhampur is having 750 inmates. Of them 600 are undertials. Bhubaneswar Special Jail at Jharpada has 543 undertrials and just 95 convicts. Angul jail has 347 undertrials compared to 50 convicts.

"There is shortage of bathrooms, beds and many other facilities in Choudwar jail due to which prisoners have to suffer and we can't do anything to help them," said an official.