...... 42 CIVIL LIBERTIES Prasad Bhagat, Minister for Prisons drew the Commission’s attention to the difficult and hazardous nature of the duties the Jail Spuds. are performing at a great risk to their personal security. Commenting on the slowness of the judicial process, he mentioned that the baillaws in our country are working to the disadvantage of the poor prisoners. 4.78 In his inaugural address the Chairperson, NHRC explained the purpose of the sensitization workshops and the role of the Commission as a facilitator in promoting good governance. He expressed concern over reported increase in the number of custodial deaths in prisons in Bihar by quoting figures for the previous three years and stressed the need for better health care in jails. He also requested the State Government to take steps for activating the institution of Board of Visitors, which has gone defunct and explained its significance in involving the civil society in the better running of Jails and improve medical facilities. 4.79 Advocates Mrs. Anjana Prakash and Shri Ahsan Ammanulla shared with the participants their observations of jail visits in Bihar and explained the landmark judgements of the Supreme Court relating to prisoners’ rights and jail conditions. The interactive session designed in the form of a panel discussion proved very useful in identifying the organisational, administrative and personnel problems of the Jail Department. 4.80 The workshop for the Jail Supdts. of Punjab was held at Chandigarh on 19 March 2004 in collaboration with the Prison Department of Punjab and the Regional Institute of Correctional Administration (RICA), Chandigarh. 13 Jail Supdts. and 5 Distt. Probation Officers attended the workshop. Shri R. S. Kalha, Member, NHRC in his inaugural address expressed the concern of the NHRC over reports of dismal living conditions in jails in various States and mentioned some of the measures taken by the Commission to improve the situation. 4.81 Shri N.K. Arora, Member, Punjab State Human Rights Commission addressed the participants as a special invitee. Dr. Upneet Kaur Lalli, Deputy Director, RICA engaged the participants in a discussion on prison conditions bringing out the problems of prisoners as well as the staff. Dr. P.S. Jaswal of the Law Department, Punjab University, Chandigarh delivered an illuminating lecture on the landmark judgements of the Supreme Court on jail conditions and prisoners’ rights. 4.82 Shri A.P. Bhatnagar, DG (Prisons) Punjab made a presentation on jail infrastructure and prison conditions in Punjab. The interaction with the Jail Supdts. proved very useful in identifying infrastructural adequacies in the jail set-up of Punjab and the peculiar difficulties arising from the complex crime situation aggravated by the nexus between politics and crime. Besides feeling demoralized over lack of career prospects and a steadily falling status in comparison with other services specially police, the Jail Supdts. are found to be suffering from a feeling of physical insecurity in the performance of their duties. NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION