Annual Report 2008-2009 Prison in Chennai, Yerwada Central Prison in Pune, and Rongyek Central Prison in Sikkim, the undertrials and convicts were lodged together in all the other jails visited, be it the male or female wards. This is an area of concern which needs to be looked into immediately by the jail authorities and rectified. One way of solving the existing problem of overcrowding in jails could be construction of new jails in States and Union Territories across the country. Undertrials A significant number of undertrials were found to be languishing in most of the jails for unduly long periods. In several instances, they were unable to secure bails, whereas in other cases despite the bail granted to them they were unable to furnish the surety as prescribed by the court. Majority of the undertrial prisoners lodged in various jails were those who had committed petty offences. Such cases could be promptly disposed off by holding camp courts inside the jail premises. In Rongyek Central Prison, it was informed that the court at times did not accept bail bonds unless the sureties happen to be government servants or owned more than 5 acres of land. The resultant outcome of this has been that many of the undertrials have remained confined to prison for more than three years. Their cases need to be brought to the notice of the respective courts for early disposal. The Central Prison in Yerwada too had a large number of undertrials who have been granted bail by the court but could not be released as no sureties were available. Other than this, it was difficult to get police escort for taking undertrials to the court from the prison. In Munger District Jail of Bihar, it was alleged by some undertrials that their thumb impressions were taken by the authorities when taken to the court; but they were not actually produced before the Magistrate. Being a serious allegation, the matter needs to be investigated and the production of undertrials before the Magistrate also need to be ensured. The undertrials lodged in Khunti SubDivisional Jail, Jharkhand also made a request for speedy disposal of their cases. Convicts It was observed in Munger District Jail of Bihar that some of the convicts had not been provided uniforms. It was also brought to light that some of the convicts of this jail were being used as watchmen in the Juvenile Home located in the jail premises. The Inspector General of Prisons needs to look into this issue and ensure that provisions contained in the Jail Manual of Bihar are not violated. It was observed that appeals of many convicts in different jails visited were pending in the respective High Courts of their States for a long period of time. For example, in Central Prison I, Puzhal, appeals of 11 convicts were pending in the High Court of Chennai. Cases of 5 life convicts were also before the Advisory Board for consideration of their premature release. Likewise, in Bhabanipatna District Jail, Orissa, 39 appeal petitions of convicts were pending before the State High Court. Twenty-four of these appeals had been pending for more than five years whereas the remaining for more than eight years. Most of these appellants were poor and not in a position to engage lawyers at their own cost. Similarly, 241 appeals of convicts imprisoned in Yerwada Central Prison, Pune were found to be pending with the State High Court. Some of these appeals were pending for more than 7 years. 73