Annual Report 2008-2009 Paucity of Jail Staff It was noticed that there were number of vacancies in various categories in most of the jails visited. For instance, in Central Prison II at Puzhal in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, there were altogether 46 posts, which were lying vacant. The Central Prison III at Puzhal meant for accommodating women prisoners only, had 30 vacancies and among them the maximum vacancies were with regard to the post of Wardens. In the same way, Yerwada Central Prison had more than 60 vacancies. The District Jail in Munger, Bihar did not have a regular Jail Superintendent. Key posts like that of the Warden and the Head Warden were also found to be vacant. An analogous situation existed in Jamui District Jail in Bihar and Rongyek Central Prison in Sikkim. In the latter jail, out of the total sanctioned posts, one post of Sub-Jailor, one post of Assistant SubJailor and 31 posts of Wardens were lying vacant. Provision of Medical Facilities Yerwada Central Prison had its own hospital within the jail premises. Depending on the nature of ailment, prisoners are admitted either as indoor patients or referred to Sasoon General Hospital for expert opinion and treatment. However, no proper liaison and coordination existed between the prison officials/doctors and the medical staff of Sasoon General Hospital. Many a times, the prisoners suffering from serious ailments had to wait endlessly for want of police escort to be taken to the General Hospital for treatment. Eighty-five prisoners were found to be psychologically disturbed in Yerwada Prison. They were kept in the observation ward of the prison hospital and should have been admitted for proper treatment elsewhere. In addition, there were 21 prisoners who were afflicted with HIV/AIDS and needed to be given special medical care and attention. The Hospital in Munger District Jail was in an appalling condition and the in-door patients were kept in extremely inhuman manner. In Bhabanipatna District Jail of Orissa, there is a provision of a six-bedded hospital. However, the only post of Medical Doctor was found to be vacant during the course of the visit made to the jail. In the same way, in Khunti Sub-Divisional Jail, there was a hospital within the jail precincts. However, there was no fulltime Doctor. The Central Prison in Rongyek did not have a hospital of its own. The prisoners were thus referred for treatment to the local government hospital. A Medical Doctor visited the prison once in a fortnight. Provision of Legal Aid In most of the jails visited, there is a need to strengthen the legal aid system so that qualified lawyers are provided to all those who cannot afford their services. In Khunti Sub-Divisional Jail at Jharkhand, there were a large number of prisoners who were deprived of legal assistance. Correspondingly, in Bhabanipatna District Jail, Orissa, though many of the prisoners were availing the services of lawyers through the Legal Aid Authority, these lawyers by and large had a very lackadaisical approach towards their clients. Many of the undertrials housed in Rongyek Central Prison also complained about the indifferent attitude of the lawyers provided 74