On HC suggestion, petrol pumps to be set up in four jails

THE COURT ALSO ASKED THE STATE GOVERNMENT TO CONSIDER REMOVING TAX ON PRODUCTS MADE BY PRISONERS.

JAIPUR: Petrol pumps will be set up on the premises of four central jails in Rajasthan, leading to income generation and employment opportunities for inmates in open jails, officials said.

The government has cleared setting up of petrol pumps and asked the prisons department to send a list of central jails where the pan can be implemented.

Vikram Singh, IG, prisons, said the department has suggested Alwar, Ajmer, Baran, Churu, Sikar and Sirohi prisons and the government will decide on four of them.

He said the Indian Oil Corporation and HPCL have completed surveys in the prisons and given proposals to establish the petrol pumps. Once the government takes a final decision, the proposal will be implemented.

The government decision has come in the wake of a suggestion by the Rajasthan high court in this regard.

Advocate general Mahendra Singhvi told the high court on Thursday that the chief secretary has cleared a proposal to open petrol pumps in four prisons and the home department too has given clearance on October 15.

A bench of justice MN Rafiq and justice NS Daddha was hearing a matter related to prison reforms on which the court has taken suo motu cognizance of the need for petrol pumps in jails for inmates’ welfare.

Amicus curiae in the case Prateek Kasliwal said the court had suggested to the government in March to open petrol pumps on the premises of central jails for the welfare of prisoners.

The court’s direction came on a report submitted by Kasliwal to the court on initiatives taken by other state governments for prison reforms.

He said Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Karnataka have adopted the petrol pump model successfully.

“Prisons usually have large open spaces and some part can be used to put up petrol pumps where inmates of open jails can be employed. The revenue generated from sales can be used for welfare of prisoners and development of basic infrastructure in jails,” he said.

The court also asked the state government to consider removing tax on products made by prisoners.

Kasliwal said putting taxes on products made in jails makes them unviable. “The shop run by inmates in Tihar jail is a succ essf ul model where f ood products, handicrafts and other items are sold and they are taxfree. We should adopt the same,” he said.

The AG told the court there are 13 powerlooms which are in working condition in central jails. Furniture manufacturing is being done in the Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bikaner and Kota central jails.

The court said the government should consider introducing manufacturing of more products in prisons that can be sold at outlets in jails.

Regarding the court query on filling vacancies of jail praharis or security guards, the AG told the court that the law department has cleared recruitment of 876 security guards in the first phase. It has also given the go-ahead for recruitment of constables and head constables in two phases.

The court said recruitment for the vacant posts should be done in one phase.

Regarding overcrowding, the AG said 350 prisoners each from the Jaipur and Kota central jails will be shifted to the new central jail in Dausa.

The court fixed the next hearing on November 22.