Patna: Bihar government will hold `bandi darbars` in jails across the state for on-the-spot resolution of complaints by jail inmates related to food, health and other civic amenities.
The `darbars` will be held once in two months by the concerned district magistrates, according to the new jail manual, 2012, notified by the state government recently.
Inspector General of Police, Prison, Anand Kishore said the conduct of such a `darbar` at the collector level is the first of its kind in the country.
The idea behind holding such a darbar was to establish direct connect between the inmates and the district magistrate who is the highest official at the district level.
The district magistrate would also identify old and helpless prisoners and provide them legal assistance for early release. The cases of prisoners afflicted with serious diseases would also be reviewed for early release.
The entire proceedings would be videographed and details would also be entered in the record book.
The IG said a grievance box would be kept in all the prisons in which inmates can drop their written complaints without the fear of inviting the ire of the superintendent of the concerned jail. The key of the box would be with the district magistrate who would open it during his visit for the `bandi darbar`.
The Bihar Cabinet had on Tuesday approved the Jail Manual 2012 which would replace the one in vogue for the last 88 years.
The new manual, suggested by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, was notified on 12.12.2012.
Bihar has a total of 56 jails - 8 central jails, 31 district jails and 17 sub jails. The total capacity of the jails was 33,119 - 32,027 male and 1092 women in 2010.
PTI
