The Haryana Human Rights Commission has reacted to concerning data from the National Crime Records Bureau’s report on prisons in 2024. The report highlighted issues such as custodial suicides, unnatural deaths, and violence in Haryana’s prisons.
A detailed order has been issued by a Bench led by Chairperson Justice Lalit Batra (Retd) seeking explanations from senior state authorities. The commission emphasized the importance of upholding the constitutional rights of prisoners to dignity, health protection, and mental healthcare.
The report presented to the commission revealed that Haryana witnessed 15 unnatural deaths in 2024, all attributed to suicide. Additionally, Haryana was noted as the sole state with firearm-related violent incidents within its prison facilities. Concerns over mental health, overcrowding, and inadequate counseling facilities in prisons were also raised.
The commission stressed the obligation of custodial institutions to safeguard inmates from self-harm, mental trauma, and social isolation. It highlighted the significance of timely psychological interventions, counseling, and emotional rehabilitation in preventing custodial suicides.
Referring to specific rules in the Haryana Prison Rules, 2022, the commission outlined measures for suicide prevention and monitoring of inmates with suicidal tendencies. It called for stricter precautions and regular psychological support for at-risk prisoners.
