RTI reveals convicts of heinous crimes getting 'Class-B' facilities in the prisons
11 Mar, 2013The reply to an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act has revealed that rape and murder convicts are getting Class-B facilities in the jails of Haryana.
Class-B facilities are provided only to non-habitual prisoners of good character, and prisoners who by social status, education and habit of life have been accustomed to superior life as per Punjab Jail Manual which is also applicable in Haryana. It also mentions that those convicted for offences involving elements of cruelty, moral degradation or personal greed or for serious or pre-meditated violence, are not entitled to such facilities which include separately cooked food, more magazines and newspapers, more visitors and beds.
However, in the reply to the application the state jail department has stated that it doesn't treat rape and murder as "acts of serious violence" or of "moral degradation". Hence, 35 under trials and convicts in three Haryana jails - Central Jail, Hisar, district prison, Karnal and district prison, Gurgaon are enjoying class-B facilities despite being convicted for murder, rape and dowry killing.