Videoconferencing at Himachal jails soon

Undertrials and other inmates will not be brought to the court any more. Judges will hear them using this advanced technology.

The facility is already available in several other states.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal and Chief Justice of Himachal Pradesh High Court Kurian Joseph are all set to launch the facility from the Kanda jail on July 31. The departments of information technology and prisons and the Himachal Pradesh High Court are together working on the project.

Two other jails being connected through this facility are the district jails of Mandi and Bilaspur. “This is a project that the government has taken up on pilot basis for three places. The facility at Kanda jail will become operational by the end of this month,” said Director General of Police (Prisons) Sohan Singh.

The facility will not only cut down the cost on ferrying prisoners to courts from jails and back,but also reduce the chances of their escape from custody.

Being a hill state,Himachal has been more prone to the problem of undertrials escaping from police custody that sometimes cost the escorting policemen their jobs.

“In the hills,it is a big hassle for the policemen to take undertrials,suspects and other prisoners to courts,” said Director General of Police D S Manhas.

Looking at the kind of the workload and stress level,Manhas said,the facility was going to help the police in a big way. In Shimla alone,it is the daily job of at least 50 policemen to bring undertrials and suspects to courts.

The videoconferencing facility also promises to reduce the rush of people in courts.

If the pilot project is successful,the government plans to extend the facility to the entire state.