In a statement issued by A.S. Shankarapandian, General Secretary of Samuga Pothunala Iyakkam (TNSPI), he stated as follows:
On the 13th, undertrial prisoner Sabari Varman was beaten to death in Nagercoil prison. The post-mortem found injuries at 19 places on his body, and three prison warders and eight prisoners have been arrested in connection with the killing. Such an incident occurring inside a prison deserves strong condemnation. It undermines confidence in the justice system. Mahatma Gandhi said that crime is the result of a diseased mind and that a prison should be like a hospital.
The investigation into the specified murder case should be completed quickly and transparently, and severe punishment for those responsible should be ensured. Appropriate compensation and employment should be provided to the affected family. To prevent such situations from recurring, security deficiencies, staff shortages and gang activities in sub-jails and central prisons must be reviewed immediately. Mandatory training in human rights, violence prevention and stress management should be provided. As staff shortages in many places lead to loss of control, adequate personnel should be appointed.
There were 21 prisoners involved in various cases including murder in the cell where the undertrial prisoner who was killed in prison had been lodged. Although the deceased was a person with a disability and an undertrial prisoner, he was housed with serious offenders, which indicates administrative shortcomings. It makes the need for prison reform very clear. The All India Committee on Jail Reforms constituted in 1980 under Justice A.N. Mulla made 658 recommendations relating to prison reforms.
The committee proposed several measures including reducing the number of undertrial prisoners, separating them from convicted prisoners, speedy trials, separate accommodation for women, young offenders and elderly prisoners, medical facilities for prisoners and monitoring. Its recommendations later formed the basis for reforms including the Model Prison Manuals of 2003 and 2016. India’s prison law was enacted during British rule in 1894 and focuses only on keeping prisoners confined.
To make changes suited to the times, the Union Home Ministry introduced the Model Prisons and Correctional Services Act, 2023. However, as it has not been implemented, various states continue to follow the old law. At a time when prisons face several shortcomings including security deficiencies, use of prohibited items, undertrial prisoners remaining incarcerated for long periods and lack of basic facilities, prison reforms are discussed but not put into practice. Only by implementing a reform law on this issue can the Tamil Nadu Government prevent such incidents from recurring.
Head Office,
Samuga Pothunala Iyakkam (TNSPI).