News for 'prison reform'

Delhi govt to shift overcrowded Tihar jail to outskirts

Delhi govt to shift overcrowded Tihar jail to outskirts

Rediff.com25 Mar 2025

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced plans to relocate Tihar Jail to the city's outskirts, allocating Rs 10 crore in the 2025-26 budget for survey and consultancy services related to the move. The decision comes amid severe overcrowding at the prison complex, which currently houses over 19,000 inmates despite being designed for approximately 10,025. The Delhi government has also initiated the development of new prison complexes in Narela to alleviate congestion. While a short-term proposal for retrofitting and vertical extension of the jail has been made, the chief minister did not disclose any date for the shifting plans. Additionally, the government will prioritize procurement of products manufactured by inmates in Tihar, Rohini, and Mandoli jails, aiming to boost their earnings and provide them with better opportunities for rehabilitation.

90% of women in police force serving as constables: Report

90% of women in police force serving as constables: Report

Rediff.com15 Apr 2025

A new report, "India Justice Report 2025", highlights the stark gender disparity in India's police force, with less than 1,000 women holding senior positions like Director-Generals and Superintendents of Police. Despite growing awareness about the need for gender diversity in law enforcement, not a single state or Union Territory has met its target for women's representation in the police force. The report also emphasizes the significant challenges faced by the justice system as a whole, including infrastructural deficiencies, overcrowding in prisons, and inadequate staffing levels. The report calls for systemic reforms to address these issues and ensure a more equitable and accessible justice system for all.

Court nod for actor Darshan's Ballari jail shift

Court nod for actor Darshan's Ballari jail shift

Rediff.com27 Aug 2024

A photograph of Darshan hanging out with three others, including a rowdy-sheeter, on the lawns of the jail had gone viral on Sunday, sparking a row.

HC grants bail to student held over Op Sindoor post; slams govt, college

HC grants bail to student held over Op Sindoor post; slams govt, college

Rediff.com27 May 2025

The Bombay High Court criticized the Maharashtra government for arresting a 19-year-old student from Pune for her social media post on Indo-Pak hostilities, calling its reaction "radical." The court granted the student bail and said the state's actions were unwarranted and had turned a student into a criminal. The court also questioned the conduct of the college for rusticating the student, stating that an educational institution's approach should be to reform, not punish. The student had reposted a post on Instagram that criticized the Indian government for provoking a war against Pakistan, but she later deleted the post and apologized for her actions. The college, however, deemed the post to be anti-national and expelled the student. The court emphasized that mistakes are bound to happen, especially at a young age, and urged the college to focus on reforming students rather than punishing them.

'Murderers Are The Most Reliable People'

'Murderers Are The Most Reliable People'

Rediff.com19 Feb 2025

'It would be difficult for us to run jails if it wasn't for murderers.'

Op Sindoor post: Pune Student released from jail

Op Sindoor post: Pune Student released from jail

Rediff.com28 May 2025

A 19-year-old Pune student, arrested for a social media post concerning Indo-Pak hostilities, has been released from jail after the Bombay high court granted her bail while rebuking the Maharashtra government for "ruining her life" and turning her into a "hardcore criminal".

Kerala ex-CM, veteran CPM leader Achuthanandan dies at 101

Kerala ex-CM, veteran CPM leader Achuthanandan dies at 101

Rediff.com21 Jul 2025

Former Kerala Chief Minister and veteran CPI(M) leader V S Achuthanandan, a key figure in Kerala's political history, died on Monday at the age of 101. He was a founding member of the CPI(M) and served as Chief Minister from 2006 to 2011.

The Dupatta Killer Review: Brutal. Sad. Upsetting

The Dupatta Killer Review: Brutal. Sad. Upsetting

Rediff.com21 Mar 2025

Patrick Graham's crime documentary The Dupatta Killer gives all sides of the story and leaves it to the viewer to fill in the blanks, notes Deepa Gahlot.

In Tihar, prisoners are turning in-house reformers

In Tihar, prisoners are turning in-house reformers

Rediff.com4 Sep 2005

Tihar, with its hard-to-manage prison population, had always posed a formidable challenge to authorities until a ray of hope was sighted while Kiran Bedi was at the helm of affairs.

Madras HC allows prisoner leave for 'purpose of procreation'

Madras HC allows prisoner leave for 'purpose of procreation'

Rediff.com25 Jan 2018

The bench then observed that it was time the government forms a committee to consider allowing conjugal visits to prisoners and that many countries had given them such rights.

Oppn MPs walk out of Parliamentary panel meet for omitting Manipur issue

Oppn MPs walk out of Parliamentary panel meet for omitting Manipur issue

Rediff.com6 Jul 2023

In the letter, they said as members of the committee, it is their moral and constitutional responsibility to discuss this matter with utmost urgency and the required sincerity.

I'm being framed, was beaten up in jail: RG Kar convict

I'm being framed, was beaten up in jail: RG Kar convict

Rediff.com20 Jan 2025

The CBI lawyer pleaded for the highest penalty for the convict, calling the crime "rarest of the rare".

Black Warrant Review: Excellent!

Black Warrant Review: Excellent!

Rediff.com14 Jan 2025

Vikramaditya Motwane and Satyanshu Singh have created an excellent but grim series, applauds Deepa Gahlot.

Man who killed, ate mother gets death penalty

Man who killed, ate mother gets death penalty

Rediff.com1 Oct 2024

A division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Prithviraj Chavan said it was confirming the death penalty on the convict -- Sunil Kuchkoravi -- and added there was no chance of his reformation. The bench said this was a case of cannibalism and it falls under the rarest of rare category.

Patna blasts: HC commutes death penalty of 4 convicts to 30 yrs in jail

Patna blasts: HC commutes death penalty of 4 convicts to 30 yrs in jail

Rediff.com11 Sep 2024

A division bench comprising Justices Ashutosh Kumar and Jitendra Kumar disposed of the death reference moved by the state government on the order of a special National Investigation Agency court, and ruled that the four convicts shall serve "30 years in prison".

'The idea is to improve people even in prison'

'The idea is to improve people even in prison'

Rediff.com6 Nov 2018

'They have started an institute, the Academy of Training and Sensitisation, for prison officials near Vellore.' 'This institute has been started by the Union home ministry and it is meant for all the four southern states.'

Pushpa 2 On OTT In January

Pushpa 2 On OTT In January

Rediff.com31 Dec 2024

A very good mix of movies and Web series arrives on OTT in January.

US President Trump meets Kim. Kim Kardashian, not Jong-un

US President Trump meets Kim. Kim Kardashian, not Jong-un

Rediff.com31 May 2018

The US president met reality star Kim Kardashian West and other officials, including senior adviser Jared Kushner, at the White House on Wednesday to discuss... prison reform.

Inmates run radio stations in Telangana prisons

Inmates run radio stations in Telangana prisons

Rediff.com12 Jun 2019

Inmates operate the FM radio stations, make announcements on the jail's time table, play patriotic, devotional and folk songs and music for fellow prisoners.

HC reduces life in prison sentence for 5 in gang-rape case to life term

HC reduces life in prison sentence for 5 in gang-rape case to life term

Rediff.com26 Jun 2023

The five men approached the high court challenging their conviction and sentence.

Not anger or revenge but love and peace will rebuild Bangladesh: Zia

Not anger or revenge but love and peace will rebuild Bangladesh: Zia

Rediff.com7 Aug 2024

A day after her release from house arrest, Bangladesh's former prime minister and Bangladesh National Party (BNP) chairperson Khaleda Zia on Wednesday thanked the people of the country for their 'struggle to make possible the impossible' and said it is not 'anger' or 'revenge' but 'love and peace' which will rebuild the nation.

Inspirational! How Police Reforms First-Time Offenders

Inspirational! How Police Reforms First-Time Offenders

Rediff.com8 Feb 2023

288 first-time offenders have been coaxed to leave the path of crime and lead a normal life.

Maharashtra govt to start yoga and meditation in prisons

Maharashtra govt to start yoga and meditation in prisons

Rediff.com4 Jun 2015

To mark International Day of Yoga, Maharashtra government has decided to initiate from June 21 physical, mental and spiritual training for prisoners across the state to help inmates come out of depression.

Murder case filed against Sheikh Hasina

Murder case filed against Sheikh Hasina

Rediff.com13 Aug 2024

A murder case has been filed against Bangladesh's ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina and six others over the death of a grocery shop owner during last month's violent clashes that led to the fall of her government, media reports said on Tuesday.

From Sitharaman the doer to reformer

From Sitharaman the doer to reformer

Rediff.com21 Sep 2019

Between August and September Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman toured the length and breadth of India meeting traders, experts and entrepreneurs to gauge the pulse of the nation, reports Ruchika Chitravanshi.

Nearly 650 people killed in Bangladesh violence: UN report

Nearly 650 people killed in Bangladesh violence: UN report

Rediff.com17 Aug 2024

Nearly 650 people have been killed in the recent unrest in Bangladesh between July 16 and August 11, the United Nations Human Rights Office has said in a preliminary report, suggesting a thorough, impartial and transparent investigation into reports of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests and detentions.

Bilkis Bano case: SC says govts shouldn't be selective in remission

Bilkis Bano case: SC says govts shouldn't be selective in remission

Rediff.com17 Aug 2023

"Why are our jails overcrowded? Why is the the policy of remission being applied selectively?"

More bad news for Kalmadi, Raja, Kanimozhi

More bad news for Kalmadi, Raja, Kanimozhi

Rediff.com1 Aug 2011

At a time when scam-tainted politicians, bureaucrats and corporate honchos are lodged in jails due to their alleged involvement in massive scams, the finance ministry has shot down a proposal on prison reforms, claiming it has no money to spare.

MSP, hiking 50% quota, VVPAT, no Agnipath: Congress rolls out manifesto

MSP, hiking 50% quota, VVPAT, no Agnipath: Congress rolls out manifesto

Rediff.com5 Apr 2024

Right to apprenticeship, legal guarantee for MSP, passing a constitutional amendment to raise the 50 per cent cap on reservations for SCs, STs and OBCs, a nation-wide caste census and scrapping of Agnipath scheme are among the promises made by the Congress in its Lok Sabha polls manifesto released on Friday.

Yunus appeals for peace as chaos reigns in Bangladesh

Yunus appeals for peace as chaos reigns in Bangladesh

Rediff.com7 Aug 2024

Nobel laureate Prof Mohammad Yunus, the designated head of Bangladesh's interim government, on Wednesday fervently appealed everybody 'to stay calm' and 'refrain from all kinds of violence' as the country witnessed a major reshuffle in the security establishment after the ouster of the Sheikh Hasina government.

Bilkis Bano case: SC to deliver verdict on convicts' remission on Mon

Bilkis Bano case: SC to deliver verdict on convicts' remission on Mon

Rediff.com6 Jan 2024

A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan had on October 12 last year reserved its verdict after an 11-day hearing on the petitions, including the one filed by Bano.

President Murmu confers Bharat Ratna on BJP veteran LK Advani

President Murmu confers Bharat Ratna on BJP veteran LK Advani

Rediff.com31 Mar 2024

The ceremony was attended by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah and the family members of Advani, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said in a post on X.

2 prisoners dig tunnel, escape from Tihar Jail

2 prisoners dig tunnel, escape from Tihar Jail

Rediff.com29 Jun 2015

In a major security breach at Tihar Jail, two undertrials scaled the wall of the ward they were lodged in and then dug a tunnel through the boundary wall to escape from one of the most high-security prisons in the country.

Who were the real heroes of the 1991 reforms?

Who were the real heroes of the 1991 reforms?

Rediff.com9 Aug 2016

'One wishes that today's 'take no prisoners' brand of politics would give way to an understanding of the national interest that is shared by both government and Opposition.'

Prison diary: 38 days in Arthur Road jail

Prison diary: 38 days in Arthur Road jail

Rediff.com26 Sep 2017

A young IT grad jailed for visa fraud committed by his agent, gives an insider's view of life in jail.

Singapore hangs Indian-origin man for trafficking 1 kg cannabis

Singapore hangs Indian-origin man for trafficking 1 kg cannabis

Rediff.com26 Apr 2023

Singapore on Wednesday executed a man convicted of trafficking one kilogramme of cannabis, ignoring international calls to abolish capital punishment.

'There were days of absolute despair'

'There were days of absolute despair'

Rediff.com2 Jul 2021

'You realised there was a struggle outside and now your struggle is to survive, live in prison, to retain your feelings, your humanity, and collectively continue doing inside what you were doing outside.'

Lucknow Central: Farhan & Co power prison drama

Lucknow Central: Farhan & Co power prison drama

Rediff.com15 Sep 2017

'Low-hanging ambitions and straightforward conflict between negotiators of harm and reform renders Lucknow Central a surprising watchability,' says Sukanya Verma.

State accountability in targeted violence rare: Teesta

State accountability in targeted violence rare: Teesta

Rediff.com3 Oct 2022

Setalvad said working on a deeply polarising issue among the public is not an easy one and added that the impact of social media on polarization is also overwhelming.

Some convicts more privileged, observes SC in Bilkis Bano hearing

Some convicts more privileged, observes SC in Bilkis Bano hearing

Rediff.com14 Sep 2023

There are some convicts who are "more privileged", the Supreme Court said on Thursday while hearing pleas challenging the grant of remissions to 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gangrape case and the murder of seven of her family members during the 2002 Gujarat riots.