This is another instance of
how the central government is at fight with the state government of Odisha,
mostly for political margin. With the national election ahead and Odisha will
also go for Assembly election at the same time, the Congress government at the
center is using all possible ways to defame the current incumbent CM Naveen
Patnaik.
Yesterday, the National
Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed the State Chief Secretary to submit
an action-taken report (ATR) within four weeks regarding rights to live of the
prisoners in different jails of the State.
Acting on a complaint filed
by a Angul-based rights body Human Rights Watch secretary Sangita Swain, the
Commission has issued the notice on December 31 last year. The petitioner
basing on RTI information alleged that more number of prisoners even twice are
staying at several jails like in Baragharh, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Rayagada, Angul
and 12 other jails than the scheduled accommodation from the category of under
trail and convicted prisoners violating their rights to live even after
punishment.
This implies, the
complainant alleged, dual punishment for the same offence which is the mental
shock during the punishment period, besides urging the Commission to ensure
emergent action against the concerned authority and compensate the prisoners
facing the problems in daily basis.
There is no doubt that it’s
the duty and obligation of the State government to provide human treatment to
the prisoners just like any other human beings. But the timing of this
allegation is little doubtful, with the whole country moving towards elections.
Saying this, we also must restate that the Odisha government must also make adequate
efforts to build new prisons and provide essential facilities in the existing
prisons throughout the state.
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