CHIEF JUSTICE EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER OVERCROWDING IN PRISONS

LUCKNOW : Chief Justice of Allahabad high court, Justice Govind Mathur on Monday expressed concern over UP prisons having three times more inmates as against their capacity.

He expressed these views at a conference on ‘Protection of Human Rights of Victims’ organised on International Human Rights Day at Lucknow high court. Justice D K Upadhyay organised the conference.

Chief justice Mathur advocated open air camps for prisoners lodged in jails for years.

Pointing out that there was only one such camp in Lucknow, Adarsh Karagar, the chief justice stressed on the need for more such open prisons.

He emphasised that natural rights were meant for victims as well as victimisers.

Sharing his experience, the chief justice stated that while awarding sentences to accused persons after convicting them, he observed that trial courts were slow to award adequate compensation to victims or their family members.

He favoured parole for prisoners who had spent many years in prison.

He was also concerned over witnesses turning hostile during trial due to some reason or the other, resulting in justice not being delivered to victims.

As chief orators, former Additional Solicitor General of India KV Vishwanath and former professor of law, Delhi University, SN Singh, also expressed their views and pleaded for observance of Rule of Law for all citizens.

Giving vote of thanks, Justice Ajai Lamba thanked Justice DK Upadhyay for organising such conferences in high court.