NHRC Issues Advisory To Mitigate Prisoner Suicides

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), led by Mr. Justice Arun Mishra, has issued an advisory to the Centre, States, and UT Administrations aimed at addressing deliberate self-harm and suicide attempts by prisoners in judicial custody. The Commission has observed that most unnatural prisoner deaths occur due to suicide. To prevent such incidents, the Commission emphasizes the importance of maintaining suicide-proof conditions in the barracks and toilets, where most suicides occur. This involves keeping objects like iron rods/grills, fans, hooks, or similar items out of reach. Additionally, the Commission recommends promoting visits by family members and facilitating telephonic communication with prisoners.

Through its Secretary General, Mr. Devendra Kumar Singh, the Commission has sent a letter to all Chief Secretaries of States and Administrators of Union Territories, with copies to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Bureau of Police Research and Development, and all Director Generals of Prisons. The letter requests the implementation of the advisory’s recommendations and asks for an Action Taken Report within three months.

The advisory focuses on eleven key areas for action by the Centre, States, and UT Administrations. These include filling vacancies and increasing staff strength, training prison staff and prisoners, screening mental health upon admission, supervising and monitoring at-risk prisoners, establishing a collaborative framework for mitigation, addressing addiction issues, ensuring compliance with relevant statutory provisions, maintaining prison hygiene, strengthening the visitor system, and improving prison architecture and environment.

Additional recommendations include securing abrasive and corrosive chemicals used for cleaning, keeping maintenance tools in safe custody, regular checks on bed sheets and blankets, installing CCTV cameras in areas prone to self-harm, conducting mental health screenings, filling vacancies with qualified staff, training personnel in CPR and first aid, assigning trained “buddies” to provide psychological support, providing adequate telephones for prisoner communication, contacting at-risk inmates’ family members for support, implementing the Gatekeeper Model for mental health care, addressing addiction with professional visits, offering life-skill education and activities, and increasing opportunities for upskilling and financial independence.

By following these recommendations, the NHRC aims to ensure the well-being and safety of prisoners in judicial custody.