Pass specific directions to states on jail reforms: Govt to SC

New Delhi: The Centre on Wednesday urged the Supreme Court to pass "specific directions" to states to comply with the orders on jail reforms, including overcrowding of prisons and improving the living conditions of prisoners.

Attorney General K K Venugopal, appearing for the Centre, told a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta that if specific directions were passed, the states would have to comply with it, otherwise they would be guilty of not adhering to the apex court's order.

He argued that the apex court could take up the prison reforms issue in six or seven states at a time and pass specific directions to them after hearing the matter.

"This court should issue specific directives to each state. If that (court's direction) is not done, they (states) will be guilty of not complying with your orders," he told the bench, adding, "you can consider listing the matter of three states at a time. The Union of India will be there". However, the bench said, "there would be some problem in this. If we will take matters of three-four states at a time, it will take time."

"That would not be possible. There are a number of cases here. If we are going to take 3-4 states at a go, it will take time," the bench said, after which Venugopal said the court could take up the matters of seven states at a time.

The apex court also referred to various other Acts passed by Parliament and said these have to be implemented.

"There are laws made by Parliment which have been discussed and debated. They have passed the law. These have to be implemented," the bench said.

The court said it was dealing with the issue of prison reforms which have four aspects - overcrowding in jails, unnatural deaths in prisons, training of staffs employed there and filling up of vacancies.

It said it has already passed general directions so far as the aspect of overcrowding in prisons was concerned and it would decide on the remaining three issues.

"We will consider this (on passing specific directions to states), but first finish this aspect of unnatural deaths," the bench said and posted the matter for hearing on August 22.