The Orissa High Court has asked the state’s Prison department to report on the feasibility of open jails in Odisha. This decision followed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) addressing issues in state prisons. The court will review the matter again on December 5.
Chief Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh and Justice Savitri Ratho are leading the discussion. They want the Director General of Prisons to assess the possibility of more open jails or open colonies in the state. The Chief Justice explained that the concept of open jails should differ from the current system.
In the proposed open jails, convicts could work outside during the day and return in the evening. This is a shift from the Biju Patnaik Open Air Ashram model, where inmates cannot leave after dark.
The Biju Patnaik Open Air Ashram mainly houses male prisoners who have long sentences of 10 years or more. It aims to rehabilitate them for reintegration into society. However, inmates must return to cells in the evening, similar to a conventional prison. Currently, the ashram has 50 inmates, but it can hold up to 125.
The Chief Justice emphasized a new model that does not rely on prison walls or locks. Open colonies, a form of open jails, would allow prisoners to live with families and gain self-sufficiency through work. The court’s vision focuses on rehabilitation and preparing prisoners for life after release.
The court’s initiative represents a significant step toward reforming the state’s prison system. This approach prioritizes rehabilitation over confinement. The state’s Prison department will now evaluate the potential for such changes, which could greatly improve inmate rehabilitation and reintegration. The next hearing will provide more information on this important issue.
