News & Events

Hon'ble Mr. Justice Ali Mohd Magrey visits Central Jail Srinagar

In order to have first-hand information about the condition of Central Jail Srinagar, vis-a-vis facilities for inmates, Hon'ble Mr. Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey, Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority accompanied by senior officers of the Govt. and Legal Services Institutions including Shri R.K. Goyal, Addl. Chief Secretary Home visited Central Jail Srinagar on September 10, 2022. On arrival, Justice Magrey was presented guard of honour by the CRPF.

Justice Magrey while addressing the inmates stated that access to Justice for all includes justice to all irrespective of which section of the society they belong to. He said that the criminal justice system speaks about two sets of people, that is, the victim(s) and the offender(s). But there is another section which remains unacknowledged by the system and is looked down upon by the society, that is, the family/dependents of the offenders.

The fact of incarceration of the offender has many consequences on the family/dependents of the offender. In many cases, the convict/under trial prisoner (UTP) is the sole bread earner of the family. Due to his absence, the family gets trapped in the vicious circle of poverty and other economic, socio-legal or psychological issues. This itself constitutes barrier to access to justice for the family members. Therefore, it is the duty of Govt. of UT of J&K to ensure the well being of the dependents of the inmates, so that the goal of access to justice for all is achieved.

Thereafter, Shri H.K. Lohia, DG Prisons took Justice Magrey to interview room and male/female barracks where they had interaction with the inmates. Justice Magrey directed the legal services officers present on spot to ensure that no UTP should remain unrepresented in the court. Later Justice Magrey also visited the welfare centre with barber shop, canteen, gym, recreation hall, bakery and tailoring unit, carpentary, kitchen, hospital, VC facility & Drug De-addiction Centre.

Justice Magrey appreciated the efforts made by the Govt. in general and Dept. of Prisons in particular for maintaining high standards of living in jail and providing all the basic necessary facilities like hygienic food, medical facilities and skill trainings,etc., to the inmates.