Cuttack: A judicial officer would visit Choudwar Circle Jail and Jharpada Jail in Bhubaneswar to take stock of the implementation of reform proposals.
The officer would submit a report in this regard to the Orissa High Court.
It may be mentioned here that The Maitree Sansad, a social outfit, filed a PIL in the HC in 2003 citing shortage of basic infrastructure at the two jails. Taking up the case, the HC had directed district judges of Cuttack and Khurda to visit Choudwar Circle Jail and Jharpada Jail respectively and inform the court regarding the availability of infrastructure there.
Accordingly, the two district judges had visited the jails and submitted their reports to the HC. They also made certain suggestions to bring reforms at the twin jails and improve infrastructure for the prisoners.
Accepting the proposals, the court had asked the state government to implement the reform measures and submit a report in this regard.
The HC asked the state government to submit the report within a month while hearing the case December 21, last year. However, the state government failed to submit the report.
Subsequently, the petitioner urged the HC to depute a judicial officer to visit the two jails and study the implementation of reform proposals.
A division bench of Chief Justice KS Jhaveri and Justice KR Mahapatra accepted the suggestion during a hearing on the case Tuesday. The bench posted the hearing to February 4.