62 ... ... ... ... .. C I V I L L I B E RT I E S 4.65 The Commission has noted, in this connection, that the Committee under the Chairmanship of Justice Shri V. S. Malimath has now submitted its recommendations in respect of the reform of the Criminal Justice System. The Commission intends to examine those recommendations most carefully. In doing so, it will obviously be guided by the central responsibility entrusted to it under its Statute viz., to ensure the better protection of human rights in the country, not their diminishing. G] Custodial Institutions 1) Visits to Jails 4.66 The protection of the human rights of prisoners has been one of the prime concerns of the Commission ever since it was established in October 1993. The effort continued to be given the highest priority during the period under review. Visits to jails in the various States/UTs were therefore undertaken regularly on behalf of the Commission, in fulfillment of the statutory responsibility entrusted to the Commission under section 12 (c) of the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993. 4.67 Thus, Justice Smt. Sujata V. Manohar, Member, visited the Central Jail, Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh on 24 March 2003. She reviewed and commented upon the living conditions of the prisoners and, in particular, the problems of women prisoners and the special needs of the children staying with them. Further, a number of complaints received from the prisoners regarding the denial of parole were transmitted to the Director General (Prisons), Madhya Pradesh for examination and report. 4.68 Shri S. V. M. Tripathi, Special Representative of the Commission for Uttar Pradesh visited the Central Prison, Varanasi on 27-28 May 2002. His report indicated overcrowding, poor sanitation and the lack of adequate medical facilities. He also commented adversely on matters relating to the payment of wages to prisoners working in the jail factory and in respect of the granting of parole to convicts. He observed that a number of appeals of prisoners against the sentence of life imprisonment imposed on them, were pending in the Allahabad High Court for more than 12 years. 4.69 Shri A.B. Tripathy, Special Representative of the Commission for Orissa visited Circle Jail, Baripada on 20 September 2002. He found that the jail was N AT I O N A L H U M A N R I G H T S C O M M I S S I O N