Orders full audit of points in inmate areas; says no officer will be shielded
PANAJI
The Prisons Department on Tuesday told the High Court of Bombay at Goa that the presence of electrical points inside Colvale Central Jail cannot, by itself, be construed as proof of deliberate facilitation of unauthorised mobile use, even as it acknowledged that the issue flagged by the court reflects a serious systemic vulnerability.
In a detailed affidavit submitted before the Bench, Superintendent of Prisons Sucheta Dessai admitted that while there are electrical points in certain locations within the jail, their existence by itself cannot lead to an inference of deliberate facilitation of unauthorised mobile usage or institutional complicity unless established through cogent evidence in a lawful inquiry.
The department also stressed that it was not attempting to play down the High Court’s concerns.
“While there are electrical points in certain locations within the jail, their existence by itself cannot lead to an inference of deliberate facilitation of unauthorised mobile usage or institutional complicity unless established through cogent evidence in a lawful inquiry,” reads a detailed report, adding,
“At the same time, the jail administration does not seek to dilute the gravity of the concern raised by the High Court. On the contrary, the issue has been treated as a serious systemic vulnerability. Accordingly, immediate and stringent corrective directions have been issued to eliminate even the possibility of misuse, irrespective of intent, legacy or historical origin.”
The department further informed the court that immediate and stringent corrective directions have been issued to eliminate even the possibility of misuse, irrespective of intent, legacy or historical origin.
The submission comes after the High Court on January 8 issued a sharp reprimand to prison authorities following revelations that an undertrial accused of murdering a 12-year-old boy managed to make a threatening phone call from inside Colvale Jail.
The report, meanwhile, added that accountability would be fixed strictly in accordance with rules.
“Responsibility, if any, shall not be shielded but shall be fixed strictly on the basis of evidence and due process… No officer, present or past, shall be exempted from scrutiny if material so warrants. Institutional discipline and security shall not be compromised,” it said.
Referring to the court’s observations as a “red flag,” the department said it has ordered a full-scale internal audit. “Immediate directions have been issued for a comprehensive audit of all electrical points within inmate-accessible areas. Any electrical point found to be non-essential, redundant or capable of misuse shall be removed, disabled or secured forthwith.”
SP Dessai stated that the department has now undertaken a 100% physical audit of electrical points in inmate-accessible areas within 15 days, removal or sealing of all non-essential or vulnerable electrical points based on the electrical engineer’s report; structural modifications, where required, to prevent recurrence, upon receipt of the Executive Engineer’s report and submission of a compliance report, duly certified by technical personnel.
Reiterating its stand, the affidavit noted, “Actions will be evidence-based, legally compliant, procedurally sound and anchored in the statutory framework of the Goa Prisons Rules 2021.”
The Bench of Justice Shriram Sirsat had directed the Deputy Superintendent of Prisons to file a comprehensive status report by January 20 on the progress on long-pending security upgrades, including mobile jammers, enhanced CCTV, cellular inspection systems, and tighter controls to prevent smuggling of phones, chargers and contraband.
