Tihar Prisons Explained

Tihar Jail
Pushpin Map:India New Delhi#India
Pushpin Map Caption:Location in Delhi##Location in India
Location:Tihar Village, New Delhi, India
Coordinates:28.6175°N 77.1006°W
Status:Operating
Classification:Maximum
Capacity:5,200(out of total 10,026 of other two jail)
Population:14,059(out of total 20,458 of other two jail)
Populationdate:31 December 2023
Opened:1957
Managed By:Department of Delhi Prisons

Tihar Prisons, also called Tihar Jail and Tihar Ashram, is a prison complex in India and one of the largest complex of prisons in India. It has 9 functional prisons spread over more than 400 acres.[1] [2] Run by Department of Delhi Prisons, the prison contains nine central prisons, and is one of the three prison complexes in Delhi. The other two prison complexes are at Rohini and Mandoli with one and six central prisons respectively.[3] Tihar prison complex is located in Janakpuri, approximately 3 km from Tihar village in West Delhi.

The prison is styled as a correctional institution. Its main objective is to convert its inmates into ordinary members of society by providing them with useful skills, education, and respect for the law. It aims to improve the inmates' self-esteem and strengthen their desire to improve. To engage, rehabilitate, and reform its inmates, Tihar uses music therapy, which involves music training sessions and concerts.[4] The prison has its own radio station, run by inmates.[5] There is also a prison industry within the walls, manned wholly by inmates, which bears the brand Tihar.[6], Tihar jail has 14,059 inmates against the sanctioned capacity of 5,200. The prison population as of 31 December 2023 has increased by double in comparison to the population as of 31 December 2018.[7] [8]

History

Originally, Tihar was a maximum-security prison run by the State of Punjab. In 1966 control was transferred to the National Capital Territory of Delhi. Beginning in 1984, additional facilities were constructed, and the complex became Tihar Prison, also the largest jail in India.

Under the charge of IPS officer Kiran Bedi, when she was Inspector General of Prisons, she instituted a number of prison reforms at Tihar, including changing its name to Tihar Ashram. She also instituted a Vipassana meditation program for both staff and inmates; initial classes were taught by S. N. Goenka. The Prison has also produced an inmate who has passed the UPSC civil service examinations.[9]

Many of the inmates continue their higher education through distance education. The campus placement program was launched in 2011 for the rehabilitation of inmates about to complete their sentences. In 2014, a recruitment drive led to 66 inmates selected on the basis of their good conduct, received job offers with salaries up to per month, from as many as 31 recruiters, which included educational institutions, NGOs and private companies.[10] [11]

Jail factory

In 1961, the Jail Factory was established in Central Jail No.2, at Tihar. Over the years, its activities have expanded to include Carpentry, Weaving (Handloom & Powerloom), Tailoring, chemicals, Handmade paper, Commercial art, and baking. Later in 2009, a shoe manufacturing unit was established using the Public-Private Partnership model, and thus the brand TJ's was launched. As of May 2014, 700 inmates work in these units, and 25% of their earnings are deposited in the Victim Welfare Fund, which provides compensation to the victims and their families.[12] A CSR initiative has been launched to provide a Level 4 training program comprising 340 hours of coursework to 1,200 inmates from the National Council for Vocational Training (NCVT) to empower inmates for a productive post-release life, as a step toward the rehabilitation of undertrials incarcerated for minor offences.[13]

Notable prisoners

Escapes

Sher Singh Rana, who had been arrested for the murder of Phoolan Devi in 2001, escaped from Tihar jail in February 2004. He was arrested again in 2006, in Kolkata.[26]

In June 2015, two prisoners who were waiting for their trial in Tihar jail escaped through a tunnel.[27]

Health concerns

The prison complex has no facilities for keeping paraplegic pre-trial inmates or convicts.[28]

The Integrated Counseling and Testing Centre reports that around 6% to 8% of the 11,800 Tihar inmates are HIV-positive, which is considerably higher than the HIV rate among the general population in India.[29]

In popular culture

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. https://tiharprisons.delhi.gov.in/sites/default/files/generic_multiple_files/rtijail1.pdf, Tihar jail factsheet
  2. http://www.economist.com/node/21554233 Tihar prison in India: More dovecote than jail
  3. Web site: Official Website of Central Jail, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, India . 2022-08-15 . tiharprisons.delhi.gov.in.
  4. News: Now, a Tihar Idol. https://archive.today/20130126092721/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-10/news-and-interviews/32141512_1_tihar-inmates-tihar-prisons-jail-authorities . dead . 26 January 2013 . . 10 June 2012.
  5. News: Tihar gets its own radio station – TJ FM Radio . The Economic Times. 30 July 2013 . 6 June 2014 .
  6. http://www.ibnlive.com/news/tihar-is-a-brand-talk-business/top/32707-3.html Mukharji, Arunoday (4 February 2007) "Brand Tihar is serious business" "CNN-IBN"
  7. Web site: Department of Tihar Prisons . Government of Delhi. 2020-12-22 .
  8. https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/delhi-news/inside-delhi-s-tihar-jail-gang-violence-overcrowding-and-security-gaps-threaten-law-and-order-101683053714685.html 25 crime lords, 160 gangs: Why Delhi jails are a security nightmare
  9. https://web.archive.org/web/20090217032254/http://www.hindu.com/2009/02/11/stories/2009021157300100.htm Relief to Tihar inmate after he makes it to IAS
  10. Web site: Recruitment drive in Tihar jail: Inmate offered Rs 35,000 per month . 6 May 2014. 2014-05-08 . The Times of India.
  11. Web site: Photo story: from jail to job, Tihar inmates get employed . Hindustan Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20140507002811/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/jail-to-job-it-s-hiring-time-in-tihar/article1-1216274.aspx . dead . 7 May 2014 . Soumya Pillai. 7 May 2014. 2014-05-08 .
  12. Web site: Tihar Jail Products . 2014-05-08 . Tihar Jail.
  13. Web site: Livemint . 2023-11-25 . Good news for prison inmates in Tihar! Now, they will get skills training . 2023-11-26 . mint . en.
  14. News: Subrata Roy pays Rs 1.23 crore for special facilities in Tihar jail. The Times of India. 7 December 2015 .
  15. https://web.archive.org/web/20110613221314/http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/11_25/b4233013968530.htm India's Powerful Can't Escape Jail
  16. http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/cash-for-votes-scam-amar-singh/1/150256.html Cash-for-votes scam: Court sends Amar Singh to judicial custody till 19 September
  17. Web site: The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News. www.tribuneindia.com.
  18. Web site: Khalistanis in US, UK, Canada plan protests to seek release of KLF activist Jaggi Johal from jail . 3 November 2022 .
  19. News: Press reports about Anca Neacsu wife of Abhishek Verma. India Today.
  20. Web site: Anca Neacsu photos from press reports. 9 June 2012 . Getty Images.
  21. Web site: Multi-crore arms deals: videos of Home Ministry, alleged kickbacks.
  22. News: When his sister thought Milkha was shot. Lokapally. Vijay. 2013-07-01. The Hindu. 2019-05-01. en-IN. 0971-751X.
  23. News: 14 दिन के लिए तिहाड़ जेल भेजे गए पूर्व वित्त मंत्री पी. चिदंबरम. Aaj Tak. en-IN.
  24. Web site: Congress leader DK Shivakumar sent to Tihar jail in money laundering case. 19 September 2019.
  25. Web site: 2012-12-01 . Zee News editors sent to Tihar jail . 2022-08-15 . Hindustan Times . en.
  26. Web site: 25 April 2006. Phoolan murder accused arrested in Kolkata . 9 June 2022. DNA India. en . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220920174346/https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-phoolan-murder-accused-arrested-in-kolkata-1025995 . Sep 20, 2022 .
  27. Web site: India prisoners dig tunnel to escape from Tihar jail . 29 June 2015. BBC . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231216222714/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-33307912 . Dec 16, 2023 .
  28. News: Tihar says no facility for paraplegic, murder accused gets bail. 12 July 2012. The Indian Express . subscription . Aneesha . Mathur . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20220926194819/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/tihar-says-no-facility-for-paraplegic-murder-accused-gets-bail/ . Sep 26, 2022 .
  29. Web site: dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121106074350/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-05-30/delhi/29599215_1_positive-prisoners-tihar-jail-jail-authorities . Nov 6, 2012 . Neeraj . Chauhan . 340 HIV positive prisoners in Tihar . The Times of India . 30 May 2011 . 2012-05-31.
  30. Web site: Prisoners Finding New Hope in the Art of Spiritual Bliss . subscription . 2014-01-08 . Stephen . Holden . Stephen Holden. 8 July 2005. The New York Times.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Tihar Prisons".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.