C I V I L L I B E RT I E S overcrowded (42%) and lacking in sanitation facilities. His report spoke of the plight of undertrials who had been languishing in the jail for long periods and of pending wage claims of prisoners engaged in the factory section. The reports of both of the Special Representatives were considered by the Commission and forwarded to the concerned Governments with appropriate recommendations. 4.70 Shri Chaman Lal, Special Rapporteur of the Commission and Chief Coordinator, Custodial Justice Cell, carried out detailed inspections of the District Jail, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh (17 June 2002), the District Jail, Karnal, Haryana (8 July 2002), the Central Jail, Bhatinda, Punjab (17-18 July 2002), the Central Jail, Patiala, Punjab (16-17 July 2002), the Central Jail, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh (13 August 2002), the Central Prison, Vellore and the Special Womens Prison, Vellore, Tamil Nadu (28 September 2002), the Central Prison, Buxar, Bihar (30 January 2003), the Model Prison, Beur, Patna, Bihar (1-2 February 2003), the Central Jail, Coimbatore, the Open Air Jail, Singanallur and the Sub-Jail, Coonoor, Tamil Nadu (8-10 February 2003). 4.71 In addition to making a broad assessment of the living conditions, state of sanitation, extent of medical cover and the availability of recreational facilities, the Special Rapporteur dealt with the specific problems of convicts and under-trials, meeting them in small groups. Detailed comments were made on: ● The working of the system in respect of furlough, parole and pre-mature release - the maximum number of complaints were in regard to these matters. ● The inordinate delay in the disposal of appeals against life sentences, many of which had been pending in the High Courts for several years. ● The cases of under-trials, which were examined in light of the pronouncements of the Supreme Court; also monitored was the compliance of the directions of the Chief Justice of India, made in 1999, in respect of the holding of Courts in jail premises particularly to deal with cases involving petty offences. ● The availability of police escorts for producing under-trial prisoners in court, as also an examination of facilities for vocational training and the engagement of prisoners in gainful work. ANNUAL REPORT 2002-2003 ... ... 63 ... ... ..