URTC Jammu discusses release of eligible prisoners with jail authorities

Jammu: In compliance to the directions of the Supreme Court of India and as per the protocol (SoP) prepared by the National Legal Services Authority, the UnderTrial Review Committee (URTC)Jammu, comprising Sanjeev Gupta, Chairman, District Legal Services Authority (Pr. District and Sessions Judge) Jammu, Naushad Ahmed Khan, Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, Jammu, Ghan Shyam, Addl. Dy. Commissioner (Nodal Officer, DLSA), Jammu, Shridhar Patil , Sr. Superintendent of Police, Jammu, on Saturday met through video conferencing for identifying and gathering of the information of all the eligible prisoners presently lodged in the District Jail, Amphalla and Central Jail, Kot Bhalwal Jammu who are covered under the section 436 & 436-A of Cr.P.C .

The committee sought detailed information from the Superintendents of the concerned jails with respect to all the eligible prisoners who had been identified and ordered to be released on the direction of the High Power Committee.

The committee was apprised by the concerned jail authorities about the precautionary measures being adopted by their prisons with respect to the prevention of covid-19 infection. The committee was also told that at present there are no Covid positive cases in the prisons.

The Committee also sought reports of any difficulties being faced by the Jail Authorities regarding implementation of the precautionary measures.

The committee also asked the jail authorities to regularly apprise the prisoners about the virus, self hygiene requirements and all recent information regarding the COVID-19 infection, besides collecting the information of the quality of all basic necessities available in the jails such as clean drinking water, food, medical care, sanitation, proper warm clothing, warm bedding, heating system, hygiene w.r.t. to the keeping of jail kitchens, toilets and barracks. The wellbeing of the jail inmates both male and female, were discussed.