Deplorable conditions of prisons in Bihar

The media reported about the deplorable conditions of prisons in Bihar. The news story was based on an exhaustive report titled "Prisons of Bihar: Status Report-2015" prepared by Smita Chakraburty, an activist and researcher. She was assigned a project by Justice Shri V.N. Sinha, Judge of Patna High Court and Executive Chairman, Bihar State Legal Services Authority, to visit all the 58 prisons of Bihar to study the living conditions.
The story also carried an interview of Justice Sinha besides an article "Neglected Reforms". In a related piece, a reference was made to the initiatives and recommendations of the National Human Rights Commission on the subject of Prison Reforms.
The Commission has observed that although it is not oblivious to the ills plaguing the prison system in the country, the news story discloses gross violation of human rights of the prisoners that are under the care and custody of the State. This is an eye opener which throws light on the denial of basic human rights of prisoners in Bihar and points to the urgent need for prison reforms across the country. Accordingly, it has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and Director General of Prisons, Government of Bihar for factual reports.
Reportedly, Ms. Chakraburty interviewed as many as 30070 inmates during her study and highlighted the following issues:
" Complete absence of medical facilities in prisons, particularly for women;
" Bias against terror accused and undertrials by denying them even the copy of chargesheet in cases against them;
" Forced Labour by undertrials which is punishable under Indian Penal Code;
" Punishment of prisoners, under the discretionary powers provided by the Prison Manual Rules without supervision by an appellate body;
" Denial of free legal aid counsel to undertrials, as very few advocates meet the undertrials in the court and they are not represented when produced before the Magistrate;
" Condition of women prisoners and need of medical and psychiatric help etc.;