HC registers suo motu PIL for open jail system in Goa

Panaji: Following the instructions of the Supreme Court, the Bombay high court has taken suo motu cognisance to implement open prison system in Goa.The Supreme Court directed every state to implement open correctional institutions.The high court has also asked the relevant state authorities to place on record a report specifying the present position of both undertrials and convicts, as well as the gradation of the various persons incarcerated.This will facilitate a better understanding of the open jail system, its necessity and how it can be implemented, said the high court.The bench of Justices Valmiki Menezes and Amit Jamsandekar observed that although Colvale jail is named ‘modern central jail’, it doesn’t seem to have a modern mindset for reformation of an open jail system.The high court said the change will have to be gradual and will not happen overnight.