Supreme Court judge Justice A K Sikri today pitched for sending police officers and judges on duty at jails and legal services authorities, respectively, to sensitise them towards the prisoners.
He said this while addressing a gathering of inmates at Tihar jail in a function held on the occasion of World Human Rights Day, organised by the Prison Department and Delhi Legal Services Authority.
"We are sensitive towards your rights and wish that you should get it. I believe every police officer should be put on jail duty and judges should serve at legal services authority to sensitise them towards the prisoners," he said.
Citing the 14 years' vanvaas (exile) of Hindu Lord Rama, he suggested the inmates to utilise their time in captivity without thinking about reasons for being kept in jail.
Justice Sikri also interacted with the inmates and responded to their queries.
In reply to a prisoner's query, he said, "Parole should be decided on the ground of the conduct of the prisoner in jail and not according to the nature of his crime."
A convicted prisoner sought to know from Justice Sikri if a definite bail policy for undertrial cases could be adopted in the country as was in some countries in West.
Justice Sikri said the court has taken suo motu cognizance of the plight of undertrials behind the bars for long time and that a "fixed policy" in this regard could make the process "mechanical", divesting individual judges of the discretion exercised by them.
Speaking on the occasion, DG Prisons Sudhir Yadav said the jail authorities with the help of Delhi Legal Services Authority and NGOs was endeavouring for release of undertrials who have got bail but are not able to furnish surities.
So far 50 such undertrials have been released out of the 615 indentified by the prison officials, he added.
Justice Sikri, accompanied by Justice Indira Banerjee of Delhi High Court, also visited the Vipassana ward, activity centre and Mulahija ward of jail number 4.
They also watched a documentary prepared by jail inmates and a cultural programme including skits 'Sadda Haq' and 'Court Martial' by Tihar inmate "Peepli Live" co-director Mahmood Farooqui.
A news letter -- 'Shakti Times" -- brought out by jail inmates was also released on the occasion.
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