Bengaluru: In response to a public interest petition, that questioned the lack of facilities to convicts incarcerated in prisons in the State, a division bench of Chief Justice D H Waghela and Justice Ram Mohan Reddy, on Monday, directed the State government to come up with long-term solutions and frame guidelines and policies to improve the infrastructure in prisons.

They also directed the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority to help the prisoners get access to legal aid. The bench said there must be a designated room for prisoners to discuss their cases with their lawyers.

The bench reminded the government of its duty to ensure sufficient remuneration was paid to inmates for the work they do and make them more productive. It said yoga must be introduced in prisons.

No Infrastructure

The petition had highlighted the lack of infrastructure in prisons such as shortage of sleeping berths, lack of bathrooms and toilets, insufficient bedding and accommodation. The government counsel said prisons were overcrowded and the government was “making every effort” to shift some of the prisons to ease the burden.

(Agencies)