Over 600 Vacancies In Delhi Prisons, Delhi High Court Told

The Director General of Prisons has informed the Delhi High Court that there were more than than 600 vacancies as on May 31 in the prisons of national capital and steps are underway for filling up the vacant posts.

Out of the total 3253 posts in Delhi's Tihar, Rohini and Mandoli jails, a total of 2572 positions have been filed, leaving a total of 681 vacancies.

The details have been provided in a status report by the DGP, Prison Headquarters, Tihar Jail in response to a public interest litigation seeking filling up of pending vacancies in prisons including of Medical Officers, Welfare Officers, Counsellors, Teachers for Education, Yoga Teachers and Education Vocational Counsellors.

The status report submits that 48 general teachers and 23 technical teachers have been deputed by Delhi government's education department for the prison inmates. The teachers have started visiting the Prison Department and they come twice in a week, it adds.

Regarding the medical and para Medical staff, the Court has been told that details of the vacant posts are regularly shared with the Delhi government's health department.

"That for the post of Counselors a vacancy notice vide advertisement No.2/21 dated 12.05.2021 has already been circulated by DSSSB vide which 40 posts of Counselors were sought exclusively for Prison Department," the status report adds.

Filed by Advocate Amit Sahni, the PIL seeks a direction for constituting the Board of Visitors, Service Board, State Advisory Board and Prison Development Board as provided under Delhi Prison Act 2000 and Delhi Prison Rules 2018, in the larger interest of prisoners as well as the prison administration.

The plea contends that though the Board of Visitors was constituted on September 13 in 2019, the same is awaiting its notification since then "for the reasons best known to the respondent authorities."

The plea also states that apart from the said vacancies, jails in Delhi are facing 20.25 percent staff shortage.

Stating that the welfare of prisoners and prison staff goes hand in hand, the plea argues that the Delhi government and DGP are duty bound to take adequate steps not only for the welfare of the prisoners but also for well-being of prison staff.

The plea also submits that the shortage of prison staff is a reason for inadequate management of prisons which sometimes leads to violence upon "the errant inmates by the staff members."

Case Title: AMIT SAHNI v. GOVT. OF NCT OF DELHI & ANR