The Gazetteers Department

For the purposes of prison administration the State is divided into two divisions, viz., Eastern and Western. The Eastern Division is composed of revenue divisions of Aurangabad and Nagpur, while the revenue divisions of Bombay and Pune fall under the Western Division. The Inspector-General of Prisons with head quarters at Pune exercises general control and superintendence over all prisons and jails in the State, subject to the orders of the State Government. The Superintendents of Nagpur Central Prison and the Yeravada Central Prison have been appointed as the ex-officio Deputy Inspector-Generals of Prisons for the Eastern and Western Divisions, respectively. Some of the powers exercised by the Inspector-General of Prisons have been delegated to the Deputy Inspector-Generals of Prisons. They arc in immediate over-all charge of the prisons in their respective divisions.

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

Classification.

The prison at Yeotmal has been classified as District Prison. Class II. The prison is mainly meant for confinement of short-term casual prisoners and local undertrial prisoners. In addition there are four magisterial lock-ups in the district located at Wani, Kelapur. Darwha and Pusad. The administration of magisterial lock-up- is governed by the rules contained in Chapter 33, Part VI of the Rules and Orders (Criminal) issued by the High Court of Judicature. Nagpur.

Recruitment.

The post of Inspector-General of Prisons is filled in by appointment of an I.C.S. or an I.AS. officer or by promotion from amongst those who are borne on the cadre of the Superintendent of Central Prisons (i.e., including the holder of the post ot the Deputy Inspector-General) or by transfer of a suitable officer in Maharashtra Medical Service, Class I or by direct recruitment.

The Superintendents of Central Prisons are officers promoted from the ranks of Superintendents of District Prisons. The senior most Superintendent of Central Prisons is usually appointed to hold the post of Deputy Inspector-General in consultation with the Public Service Commission. The Superintendents of District Prisons are appointed both by direct recruitment or by promotion from amongst Jailors in grade I in the proportion of 1: 2. Jailors in grade I arc also appointed both by direct recruitment and by departmental promotion from amongst Jailors in grade IT in the proportion of 1:2. The appointments of direct recruits to the post of Superintendent, District Prison and/or Jailor, grade I are made on the recommendations of the State Public Service Commission. Appointments to the post of Jailors, grade II are made by the Inspector-General by promotion of Jailors in grade III. Appointments to Jailors grade III are also made by the Inspector-General. However, 50 per cent of the posts are open to outside candidates who must necessarily lie graduates, while the remaining posts are filled in by promotion of suitable departmental candidates who have passed the Secondary School Certificate Examination or its equivalent. The candidates for appointment to the posts of jailor, grade III are interviewed by a selection board consisting of the Inspector-General and two Superintendent: of Prisons who are nominated by the State Government. Higher posts from the guarding establishment are generally filled in by promotion according to seniority.

Training.

The jail Officers Training School at Pune imparts practical as well as theoretical training to Prison Officers (Superintendents of Prisons, Jailors, grades I and II) on 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 a 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, undertrial and security or detinue. There is no separate class of political prisoners but certain rules which do not allow the grant of facilities and privileges on the score of length of sentence are relaxed in their favour under the specific orders of Government. Prisoners are also grouped as short termers. medium and long-termers. Prisoners with a sentence up to three months are classified as short-termers, those sentenced up to a period of three months and above but up to two years are classified as medium-termers and these sentenced up to two years and above are classified as long termers.

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 employed in prison maintenance services and prison farms where they work daily and cultivate the land set aside for the purpose.

Wages.

Medium-term and long-term prisoners, so also security and undertrial prisoners who volunteer to work are paid as per the prison rules. They are generally paid 1 /5th of the wages which are normally paid for similar work outside, provided they complete their daily quota.

Release on Parole and Furlough.

A prisoner is released on parole by the Commissioner. Nagpur Division, in the event of serious illness or death of any member of the family or nearest relative of the prisoner or any other cause deemed sufficient. The period spent on parole is not counted as part of the sentence. A prisoner who is sentenced to more than a year and up to five years and who has actually undergone one year's imprisonment is eligible for release on furlough for a period of two weeks. A prisoner sentenced to more than five years is eligible for release on furlough on completion of two years of actual imprisonment. The period spent on furlough counts as part of sentence.

Remission of Sentence.

The prisoners are granted remissions on various grounds such as ordinary, annual good conduct, special, State, blood donation conservancy work and physical training. State remission is awarded by the Government on occasions of public rejoicing.

Board of Visitors.

A Board of Visitors comprising official and non-official visitors is appointed for every headquarter sub-jail and tahsil sub-jails. There are ordinarily four non-official visitors for the headquarter sub-jail of whom two are members of the Maharashtra Legislature and the remaining two are nominated by the Government of whom one is a lady visitor. The appoinment of non-official visitors other than the members of the Maharashtra Legislature is made for a period not exceeding three years. Persons who in the opinion of the Government are interested in prison administration and are likely to take interest in the welfare of prisoners both while they are in prison and after their release are nominated by Government on the Board of Visitors on the recommendation of the District Magistrate concerned and 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. Quarterly meetings of the Board are also convened. 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 visitor's book its observations after detailed inspection of the jails. Any remark at the quarterly meeting or at the weekly visit deserving special and prompt disposal is immediately forwarded by the Superintendent to the Inspector-General for necessary orders with such remarks as the former may desire to offer.

In bigger jails a committee of prisoners 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.

The cases of long-term prisoners are initially reviewed by the Advisory Board. Prisoners deserving concession are released prematurely under the orders of Government.

Education.

Literacy classes are conducted for the prisoners under the supervision of paid teachers assisted by convict teachers. Necessary facilities are provided for those desirous of prosecuting higher studies. Library books and newspapers are also supplied to the prisoners at Government cost. A lecturer is also appointed to deliver lectures on the principles of morality to the prisoners on Sundays and jail holidays.

The Yeotmal Zilla Parishad arranges exhibition of documentary and full length feature films for the benefit of the prisoners once in a month. Musical programmes and other cultural programmes are also arranged for their benefit.

Discipline.

Emphasis is laid on the maintenance of good discipline in the prison. Positive and constructive discipline is treated as the basic foundation for wholesome changes in the attitudes of prisoners.

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