Bhopal, May 8: State government has effected an important amendment to Jail Manual with a view to redressing problem of overcrowding in jail in Madhya Pradesh. As per the amendment, now the prisoners undergoing five years' jail term would be detained in sub-jails. Similarly, those undergoing ten or more years' imprisonment or life term would be detained in central jails. Notification to this effect has been issued. All the superintendents of central jails, district jails and sub-jails have been instructed to ensure implementation of this order by June 1, 2008. Earlier, prisoners undergoing up to one-year jail term were kept in sub-jails and those convicted for up to three years' imprisonment were detained at district jails. Due to this, central jails had to accommodate prisoners double or triple of their capacity.

This amendment would bring about far-reaching benefits for Jail Department as well as prisoners. Sub-jails were keeping prisoners less than their capacity while the government had to spend lots of funds in running these sub-jails. This situation would improve now and state government's resources would be utilised justifiably.

According to the amendment, prisoners convicted for minor crimes and hailing from far-fetched areas would not have to undergo imprisonment with habitual offenders at central jails as they would undergo imprisonment at a nearby sub-jail. The biggest beneficiaries of this amendment would relatives of such prisoners who had to visit far-fetched central jails.

Similarly, the amendment would lessen burden on central jails which used to be overcrowded. On the other hand captives undergoing short term imprisonment would be shifted to sub-jails where they would get better opportunity of work which was not available to them at central jails. As per rules honorarium is given to prisoners in lieu of their work in jail.

All the superintendents of central jails have been instructed to ensure that prisoners are kept in their jails as per the amendment. If any prisoners of any district/sub-jail is present in their jail, immediate action should be taken to transfer them to as per the amendment. At the same time it has been made clear by the state government that if any prisoner is undergoing life imprisonment at district of sub-jails under any order, he must be transferred back to the central jail.

June 1, has been set as the deadline for jail superintendents to implement this amendment. At the same time, they have been asked to send the compliance report to the government through Jail Headquarter.

It may be mentioned that at present 120 jail in Madhya Pradesh have the capacity to keep 20 thousand 448 prisoners whereas these jails have 32 thousand 19 more prisoners than their capacity. As per perspective plan of the Union government, the Madhya Pradesh government has undertaken construction of additional barracks in many jails with a view to enhancing their capacity. As many as 359 new barracks have been constructed under this scheme. Even overcrowding and disbalanced distribution of prisoners was witnessed in jails. In the light of these facts, the state government has effected this amendment.