Rajasthan Prison Bill-2023 passed by voice vote

• 20 Jul 2023

Why in News?

On July 18, 2023, after discussing the Rajasthan Prisons Bill-2023 in the Rajasthan Assembly, the House passed the bill by voice vote.

Key Points:

• On this occasion, Prisons Minister Tikaram Julie said that the Rajasthan Prison Bill-2023 has been brought to ensure reformative provisions, basic human rights, their skill development and vocational training program for the prisoners in the jails of the state.
• At present, the 129-year-old Administration and Management Prisons Act-1894 and the 63-year-old Rajasthan Prisons Act-1960 are in force in the state.
• The Rajasthan Prisons Bill-2023 has been brought together by integrating various amendments made in these Acts from time to time. This bill will work for the prisoners as well as the officers and employees working in the jails.
• The Prisons Minister said that various innovations are being made by the department for the improvement of prisoners so that they can get employment after the completion of their sentence. Open detention camps, skill development programmes and the opening of petrol pumps in jails are important innovations in this direction. Rajasthan ranks first in the entire country in terms of open camps. About 40% of the country's open detention camps are in Rajasthan.
• LED bulbs are being made by the prisoners in the jails of the state, which are available at a lower price than the market. The construction work of new jails in Dungarpur and Jhalawar will be completed soon.
• Facilities in jails in the state are being expanded at a rapid pace. The facility of appearance through VCs is available in 96 % of the jails of the state and soon this facility will be set up in the remaining jails. At the same time, continuous inspections are being carried out by administrative, police and judicial officers for security in the jails.
• Earlier, the House rejected the proposal to circulate the bill for public opinion by a voice vote.