MHA, jail officers to hold talks on safeguarding inmates’ dignity

NEWDELHI: KEY FEATURES OF

THE RULE INCLUDE ENSURING INMATES HAVE ACCESS TO LEGAL REPRESENTATION AND PROBE INTO CUSTODIAL DEATHS, TORTURE

In a move that might lead to better facilities for inmates, the Union home ministry and jail authorities from across the country are likely to discuss the possibility of implementing the Nelson Mandela Rules in a meeting on Thursday.

Adopted unanimously by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, the Standard Minimum Rules (for prisoners) were re-named ‘Nelson Mandela Rules’ to honour the legacy of the late South African President, who spent 27 years in prison for opposing apartheid.

The Mandela Rules outline the minimum standards that should be applied in prisons to safeguard a prisoner’s dignity. Some of the key features of the rules include access to medical and health services for inmates, disciplinary measures against erring jail staffers, investigation into deaths and torture in custody and inmates’ access to legal representation and complaint mechanism.

The meeting will be attended by directors and inspector generals of prisons with ministry officials stating that they would discuss the possibility of introducing reforms in jails with a special focus on protecting the human rights of prisoners.

A ministry source said a study by the National Human Rights commission titled “Suicides in Prison: Prevention, strategy and implication from human rights and legal points of view” would also be discussed, along with by the International Committee of the Red Cross issued guidelines on investigations into custodial deaths.

In September, the Supreme Court had directed the MHA to circulate documents and studies relating to prison reforms to all jails.

“The review meeting is primarily being conducted to take stock of prison reforms and improvements made by the jail administration. Mandela Rules, the Model Prison Manual and advisories issued by MHA to states and union territories on issues relating to prison reforms will be discussed in the meeting,” a home ministry official said.

The Model Prison Manual was prepared by the ministry in 2016 and threw light on previously uncharted areas like plight of women prisoners, computerisation of prisons and rehabilitation of released inmates.