The Gazetteers Department

Location: There are two district prisons and eight taluka sub-jails in Sholapur district. The two district prisons arc located at Sholapur and Akkalkot. The taluka sub-jails are at Barshi, Karmala, Madha, Mohol, Pandharpur, Mangalwedha, Malshiras and Sangola.

Classification: The prisons at Sholapur and Akkalkot have been classified as District Prisons class III and are mainly meant for confinement of short-term casual prisoners upto six months and admission of local under-trial prisoners, as well as prisoners from the Taluka and Judicial Magistrates' Courts in the district. The prisoners admitted into these prisons with longer sentences etc., are transferred to nearby central or district prisons according to classification rules. The Sholapur District Prison can accommodate 120 prisoners whereas the capacity of Akkalkot District Prison is 75.

Organisation: For purpose of prison administration, the State has been divided into two regions, viz., eastern and western regions. The Superintendents of Nagpur Central Prison and the Yervada Central Prison have been appointed as ex-officio Deputy Inspectors-General of Prisons of the eastern and western regions, respectively. The Inspector-General of Prisons exercises general control and superintendence over all prisons and jails in the State, subject to the orders of the State Government.

The Superintendent, Sholapur District Prison, is vested with executive management of the prison in all matters relating to internal economy, discipline, labour, punishment, etc., subject to the orders and authority of the Regional Deputy Inspector-General of Prisons and the Inspector-General of Prisons, Maharashtra State, Pune. The services of well-behaved convict overseers are utilised for doing patrolling duty outside the sleeping barracks but inside the jail at night time.

Recruitment: The Superintendents of Central Prisons are officers promoted from the ranks of the Superintendents of District Prisons. The Superintendents of District Prisons are appointed both by direct recruitment and by promotion from amongst Jailors in Grade I in proportion of 1: 2. Jailors in Grade I are also appointed both by direct recruitment and by departmental promotion from amongst Jailors in Grade II in proportion of 1: 2. Appointment to the post of jailor. Grade II, are made by the Inspector-General by promotion of Jailors in Grade III. Appointment to the post of Jailors, Grade III, are also made by the Inspector-General.

Training: The Jail Officers' Training School, established at Pune in 1955, imparts practical as well as theoretical training to prison officers (Superintendents of Prisons, Jailors, Grade I and II) an various subjects relating to correctional administration and prison management. Training facilities are also provided for guards and non-commissioned officers.

Classification of prisoners: Prisoners are classified as class I or class II by the court after taking into consideration their status in society and also the nature of their offence. They are further classified as casual, habitual, under-trial and security or detenus. Prisoners are also grouped as short-termers, medium-termers and long-termers. Prisoners with a sentence upto three months are classed as short-termers, those sentenced upto a period of three months and above but upto two years are classified as medium-termers and those sentenced for more than two years are classified as long-termers. Headquarter sub-jails are meant for the confinement of short-term prisoners and under-trial prisoners only.

Work: On admission, a prisoner is examined by the medical officer and is classified as fit for light, medium or hard labour. Aptitude and past experience are also considered before allotting the work..

Prisoners are engaged in hand-loom weaving, pit-loom weaving, laundry work, carpentry, tailoring and gardening.

Medium-term and long-term prisoners, so also security and under-trial prisoners who volunteer to work, are paid as per the prison rules. They are generally paid l/5th of the wages which are normally paid for similar work outside, provided they complete their daily quota of work.

Board of Visitors: A Board of Visitors composing of official and non-official visitors is appointed for every head-quarter sub-jail and taluka sub-jail. There are ordinarily four non-official visitors for the head-quarter sub-jail, out of which two are members of the Maharashtra Legislature and two are nominated by Government, of whom one is a lady-member. Persons who, in the opinion of Government, are interested in prison administration and are likely to take interest in the welfare of prisoners both while they arc in prison and after their release are nominated by Government on the Board of Visitors on the recommendation of the District Magistrate concerned and the Inspector-General of Prisons. The chairman of the Board of Visitors, who is usually the District Magistrate, arranges for a weekly visit to the prison by one of the members of the Board. Non-official visitors are also allowed to visit the prison on any day and at any time during the day in addition to the weekly visit arranged by the chairman. The Board records in the visitors' book its observations after the detailed inspection of the jails.

In bigger jails a committee is selected for each year by the prisoners themselves, and the Jailor and the Superintendent consult the committee which is known as Jail Panchayat Committee in matters of discipline and general welfare of prisoners.

Education: Literacy classes are conducted for prisoners under the supervision of a paid teacher. School books, slates and pencils are provided to prisoners at Government cost. Lessons in ethics and good citizenship are given at the District Prison by eminent persons appointed for the purpose. Literacy classes in Sholapur prison are conducted with the help of inmate teachers upto primary standard.

Recreational and cultural activities: Documentary as well as full-length films are exhibited to prisoners ordinarily once a month by the Publicity Department. Newspapers are supplied to convict prisoners at Government cost as per the scale laid down under the rules. A library has been organised for the benefit of prisoners. Prisoners are also permitted to keep at a time two religious and ten non-religious books for their own use.

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