Faizan Wani
Srinagar, Aug 24 : Amid “dearth of space” in jails of Jammu & Kashmir, the administration has declared three buildings as subsidiary jails in the Union Territory.
Documents accessed by news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO) reveal that administration of the Union Territory has declared three buildings- two in south Kashmir and one in north Kashmir- as subsidiary jails.
On July 29, 2021, the UT’s Home department issued three separate notifications to declare an equal number of buildings as subsidiary jails under The Prisoners Act-1900.
According to the documents, the Home department has declared a building of Boys Pahari Hostel Kupwara as subsidiary jail. “In exercise of the powers conferred by clause(b) of section 2 of The Prisoners Act, 1900 and in suppression of Order No. 450 of 2021 dated 15.06.2021 issued under endorsement No. DS/Temporary Jail/2019/2184-89 by the DGP( Prisons), the government hereby declared the building of Boys Pahari Hostel adjacent to district jail complex, Kupwara as a subsidiary jail,” read a notification.
Similarly, the Home department has also declared a building situated at Armed Police complex, Kehribal, Mattan, Anantnag as subsidiary jail.
The documents further reveal that a building within the premises of police station Kulgam has also been declared as subsidiary jail.
It is pertinent to mention that jails in Jammu and Kashmir, especially Kashmir are “overcrowded”.
According to details gathered by the KNO, more than 4500 persons are lodged in jails of Jammu and Kashmir. Of which, 1400 are lodged under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985—(KNO)
