Kolkata, July 16 -- The Calcutta High Court has directed the West Bengal government to furnish details of custodial deaths between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2021, while issuing a series of directions aimed at ensuring speedy compensation to the families of inmates who died in custody.

Hearing matters relating to correctional homes, a division bench of Justice Debangsu Basak and Justice Md. Shabbar Rashidi noted that the state had already submitted details of custodial deaths from 2022 to January 31, 2026. Accepting a request made during the hearing, the court directed the government to place on record the remaining data from 2016 to 2021.

The bench also recorded the state's submission that compensation in several cases could not be disbursed because legal heirs and their bank account details could not be identified. To address this, it directed the state to submit district-wise details of custodial deaths from January 1, 2016 to January 31, 2026, including the names and addresses of deceased inmates, to the State Legal Services Authority (SLSA) by July 31.

The SLSA will forward the information to district legal services authorities, which have been asked to trace legal heirs, facilitate opening of bank accounts wherever necessary and ensure compensation is paid at the earliest. The Member Secretary of the authority will submit a report on the progress of compensation before the court.

The bench also sought timelines for filling 1,467 vacant posts in correctional homes, where 3,322 personnel are in position against a sanctioned strength of 4,789, and for constructing new correctional homes to ease overcrowding.

It directed the state to take into account the last Census, projected population growth and anticipated inmate strength while planning prison infrastructure.

The court also sought reports on CCTV coverage of inmate entry and exit points, separate security-check rooms for women inmates, and the number of inmates suffering from sexually transmitted diseases or HIV, while directing the state to ensure they receive appropriate medical care.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.