NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION, INDIA I. II. Workshop on Best Practices in Prisons held on 21.12.2018 a) A meeting indicating the best practices/initiatives of the State Prisons and their impacts on the respective Prison Administration was held in the Commission on 21.12.2018. The meeting was chaired by Justice Shri. H.L Dattu, Chairperson NHRC, and was attended by Mrs. Jyotika Kalra, Member, NHRC, and Mr. Ambuj Sharma, Secretary General, NHRC, senior NHRC officials, DG of Prisons and Senior Officers from various States and representatives of various venerated Civil Society Groups and Senior Officers from Ministry of Home Affairs. b) The objective of the meeting was to compile a single compendium consisting of the good initiatives and best practices which are being implemented in different Prison Administration. Subsequently, the compendium will be circulated among different jails across the country for them to emulate the recognised good initiatives and best practices. The work for the compilation is ongoing at present. Meeting on ‘Legal Aid to Prisoners in collaboration with NLU Delhi and DLSA’ The Commission on 15 March, 2019 held a meeting on‘Legal Aid to Prisoners in collaboration with NLU Delhi and DLSA’. The meeting saw the participation of representatives from Tihar Jail, DLSA, NALSA and senior officials of NHRC. The objective of the meeting was to explore the ways in which the students of National Law University, Delhi can facilitate the prisoners in filing bail, appeals, applications etc in various courts through the Delhi Legal Service Authority and help the prisoners in early settlement of their pending issues. The proposed initiative will have two main objectives: III. a) Promoting human rights of the prisoners by improving their access to the legal system. b) Fostering professionalism and a sense of public service amongst the students. Open House Discussion on Analysis of Prevention of Torture Bill, 2017 An Open House Discussion on Analysis of Prevention of Torture Bill, 2017 was held on 15.11.2018, under the Chairmanship of Shri H.L.Dattu, Hon’ble Chairperson, NHRC and was attended by NHRC officials, members of Civil Society along with the representatives from the Government. The objective of the Open House Discussion was to discuss and analyze the Prevention of Torture Bill, 2017. IV. Committee on Amendment to Prison Act, 1894 a) On the basis of the deliberation held in the National Seminar on Prison Reforms (13-14 November, 2014), it was recommended to constitute a committee of experts to suggest amendment to the Prisons Act, 1894 to make it conform to the human rights norms, Supreme court judgments and International Convention/Covenants binding on India. b) A Committee was constituted to this effect on 18.3.2015 under the Chairmanship of Shri Sanjay Kumar IAS Principal Secretary, Home (jails) Punjab for the amendments to the Prison Act, 1894. The Committee consisted of nine esteemed member including two NGOs Viz CHRI and Prison Ministry while NHRC was represented by DIG and SSP-I. ANNUAL REPORT 2018-19 77