Prisoners in Haryana to get chance to shift to open jails

RELIEF A home dept spokesperson says the state government has formulated Haryana Prisoners Open Air Camp Rules, 2018, for shifting eligible prisoners to open camps (prisons)

IF A PRISONER SHIFTED TO A CAMP IS EMPLOYED BY THE SUPERINTENDENT TO PERFORM ANY WORK, HE WILL BE PAID SUCH MINIMUM WAGES FIXED BY THE STATE GOVT

CHANDIGARH: Prisoners in Haryana will now have an opportunity to get shifted to open jails.

An open prison is a place for which certain types of convicts are eligible as they are not locked up but remain under supervision.

They are allowed to get employment and live with their families as a part of rehabilitation process. The idea is to provide prisoners an opportunity to reintegrate into the society after their release and help them become economically self-dependent.

A home department spokesperson said the state government has formulated Haryana Prisoners Open Air Camp Rules, 2018 for shifting prisoners to open camps (prisons) in the state.

The spokesperson said the government on the recommendations of the director general, prisons, would establish as many such camps as necessary in the vicinity of the regular prison under general directions and control of the respective

superintendents of the regular prison.

The spokesperson said the accommodation, including electricity, water supply and other basic amenities, for housing prisoners would be made available and suitable number of family accommodations would also be provided as per the requirement in the open camps.

A prisoner shifted to the camp would arrange food, clothing and other requirements of daily routine for himself as well as for his family out of his own earnings. He would also maintain his bank account himself or through his family member and would retain the income generated or earned by him.

The spokesperson said that if a prisoner shifted to a camp is employed by the superintendent to perform any work, he would be paid such minimum wages, as fixed by the government, from time to time.

A prisoner shifted to camp would keep his family member and no prisoner would be shifted to the camp with whom a

PRISONERS NOT ELIGIBLE

The spokesperson said that inmates not eligible for shifting to the camp included hardcore prisoners; those below 30; not medically fit to do work; undertrial prisoners, civil prisoners; prisoners chargesheeted or convicted in more than one case; those having unexpired sentence of not less than two years; those punished for a major prison offence in the last three years; not a permanent resident or whose family member does not have a permanent residence in Haryana and had no interview (mulaqat) in the last six months.