No.75/2019-2020

 In pursuance to Supreme Court of India Order in Suo Moto Petition (C) No. 1/2020, the Mizoram State Government had formed a High Powered Committee to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Jails on 26.3.2020, of which the following have been appointed as Members :

Chairman : Hon'ble Mr. Justice Michael
Zothankhuma, Judge, Gauhati
High Court and Executive
Chairman, Mizoram State Legal
Services Authority.

Members : Pi Lalbiaksangi,
Secretary to the
Govt. of Mizoram, Home
Department

Pi Maria CT Zuali,
Inspector General of Prisons,
Mizoram

Member Secretary : Pu Vanlalenmawia
Member Secretary, Mizoram State
Legal Services Authority.

The High Powered Committee held its first meeting on 27.3.2020 at 11:00AM in the Judge's Bungalow, Gauhati High Court, Aizawl Bench, where they discussed measures to be taken to prevent spread of COVID-19 in jails across the state. It was also pointed out that as the three main jails - Central Jail, Aizawl, District Jail, Champhai and Lunglei were already over-crowded, steps must be taken to reduce the number of inmates currently held in these jails.

As the visiting days for prisoners by their families have been temporarily suspended as a safety measure, mobile phones have been provided at Central Jail, Aizawl as well as District Jails at Champhai and Kolasib, so that the inmates can speak to their families, as permitted by the authorities. Provision of mobile phones at the other jails are also being arranged.

Following the Committee's directive, a doctor has been posted at the Central Jail to take care of the health conditions of inmates there. Also, the doctors in the District Civil Hospitals will do medical rounds of the district jails at least thrice a week.

 The Committee has also asked the Court to consider bail petitions carefully, keeping in mind the current situation of the pandemic outbreak. It was also decided to make separate accomodations for new prisoners and the Prison Department will take up the matter immediately.

Prison department will also identify old and physically weak prisoners in all the Jails and ensure that they have access to prompt medical help as and when needed.

Under Trial Review Committee (UTRC) has already been formed in 8 Districts in 2015. The Committee passed that UTRC also be formed in all the 3 new Districts and for this, Member Secretary, Mizoram State Legal Services Authority (MSLSA) may bring out Notification. Report maybe sumbitted by the High Powered Committee to the Mizoram SLSA two weeks after Lock-down has been permanently lifted.