SHIMLA: High Court of Himachal Pradesh has directed State Government to expedite the filling up 178 vacant posts of different categories in Department of Prisons and Correctional Services, Himachal Pradesh within a period of one month.
The government has been directed to send necessary directions to the recruitment agency, be it Public Service Commission or Staff Selection Commission, who shall expedite the process of filling up the vacant posts.
A Division Bench comprising the Chief Justice Mohammad Rafiq and Justice Sandeep Sharma passed these orders on a petition taken up suo moto by the Court as Public Interest Litigation on the directions issued by the Supreme Court in matter related to inhuman conditions in 1382 Prisons across country.
During the course of hearing the Court was informed that there are 762 posts of different categories sanctioned the in Department of Prisons & Correctional Services, Himachal Pradesh, out of which 584 posts are filled up, but 178 posts of different categories are lying vacant.
The Court however, expressed sense of satisfaction for implementing the decision to provide one sweet item on every Sunday to the prisoners.
Mr. Ankush Dass Sood, Amicus Curiae, assisted by Ms. Vandana Misra and Mr. Raj Kumar Negi Advocates, submitted that their visit to the Sub Jail Kishan Pura Nalagarh (Solan) has shown a condition that even though the construction of new building of the jail has been completed, but unless sewerage line is not made functional, it will be of no use as no jail inmates can be lodged there.
The Court directed the respondents to complete the construction of sewerage line preferably on or before 31st August 2022.
The respondents have been further directed to examine the matter with regard to creation of posts of recently upgraded, Deputy Superintendent of Jails, in light of provisions of Jail Manual adopted by them. The matter has been ordered to be listed after four weeks.
