Tuensang District Jail is reportedly battling with a number of shortcomings when it comes to medical assistance for inmates.
A press release from PD & SJ, Tuensang Victo Sema and project assistant TDLSA Yimtsusangla Chang and UTRC chairman, stated that Tuensang District Legal Service Authority (TDLSA) discovered this during the monthly Under Trial Review Committee (UTRC) meeting, held on April 29 at District Jail, Tuensang.
In the meeting, problems faced in administration of the district jail were discussed and it was observed that the Jail has no regular medical officer except for a visiting doctor. Although it has one pharmacist, no medical staff or attendants are stationed to take care of sick inmates. This means that when sick prisoners are taken outside the jail, security personnel have to act as both attendants and security.
It was also observed that the annual budgetary allocation for prisoners’ medical expenses was lower than the actual medical expenses. This, according to the press release, puts constraints on, and inconveniences, proper treatment of sick prisoners.
The jail manual mandates (as applicable in the State) that there be a hospital for each District Jail, a regular medical officer, staff and attendants and medical expenses incurred for the treatment of sick prisoners has to be borne by the jail authority.
In the event a sick prisoner has to be treated in a private hospital or clinic due inadequate medical facilities in government hospitals/clinics, the jail authority still has to bear the medical expenses.
In emergency cases, it is within the power of the jail superintendent to call for police security to take sick prisoners outside the jail for immediate treatment, as they anticipate a magistrate’s order.
During the meeting, among the 22 UTPs lodged in the District Jail as of April 29, none were found eligible for free legal aid.
The meeting was attended by Victo Sema, PD&SJ/chairman UTRC, Bharat Markad, SP Tuensang, K. Hamtok Phom, superintendent of Jails Tuensang, Moasunep K. Jingru, EAC (Sadar), Y. Chubasangle, assistant jailor, Soteth Anar, panel lawyer and Yimtsusangla Chang, project assistant TDLSA.
The TDLSA also conducted an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and benefits camp through a mini Lok Adalat on April 30 at the principal district & session’s court complex.
TDLSA, in collaboration with the Power Department, served 15 summons to which seven responded. Two of the seven cases were settled involving a total amount of Rs. 101,050.22.