On July 5, it will be the first death anniversary of that most unfortunate custodial death of a brilliant and caring Jesuit Priest our late Fr Stan Swamy. It is high time to revisit the jail rules as it was absolutely improper to have detained a person like Fr Stan in jail despite him being over 80. Those that are elderly who have to be kept in detention could be possibly placed under house arrest or in old age homes Prisons should only be used to reform and to protect the peace of those on the street and for providing a sanction against very serious wrongdoings. The detention of people over the age of 80 in poorly kept prisons suffering frailty or other illness is a sad reflection on society and a failure to deal with people humanely.
Prisons have a responsibility to ensure the safety of prisoners “ which includes protecting those at special risk of injury or who are vulnerable. The prison system must never be inherently unjust and inhumane. In the case of Fr Swamy, the courts should have taken suo motu cognizance, but the judiciary failed by not rising to the occasion. Fr Stan may be physically gone but his life and works for the community specially the marginalised will inspire us for a long time to come. Let’s hope that his death will trigger a much needed reform to the prison system and the welfare of our elderly.
