On an average, 60 prisoners died per year in last 8 yrs, reveals data
Most ‘untimely’ deaths can be avoided with continuous medical care: Experts
CHENNAI: In a span of eight years, over 500 inmates of central prisons in the state have died during their incarceration. Several of the deaths, according to experts and sources in the Prisons Department, were ‘untimely’ and could have been avoided if prompt and continuous medical care was ensured.
According to data collated from affidavits filed before the Madras High Court by the Prisons Department and RTI replies, a total of 118 prisoners died between January 2022 and February 2024 and 423 prisoners died between 2011 and 2017. Nearly 60 of the prisoners committed suicide during the period.
Meanwhile, the Prisons Department sources say that more than 200 prisoners have died between 2018 and 2021. The data indicates that at least 60 prisoner deaths are reported in a year in the central prisons in the state.
Though the prison authorities claim that the medical care in the central prisons in Tamil Nadu is far better than other states, they admit that several of the prisoners’ deaths were untimely and could have been avoided if they were provided proper and regular medical care. “Access to medical care for the inmates is very poor. Apart from this, coordination between the prison, police and the government hospitals is not in place to guarantee continued medical care for prisoners suffering from chronic illness,” advocate and amicus curiae R Vaigai told DT Next.
She emphasised that the Prisons Department along with the police and heads of the government hospitals in respective districts should chalk out programmes to ensure that prisoners in need of specialist care should not be missed out. They should be taken to the hospitals on the days when specialists were available.
Vaigai, in her report to the Madras High Court following her visits to the central prisons, flagged the issue and said that “medical care of the prisoners’ needs urgent directions” from the HC. She urged the HC to issue an appropriate order for prompt police escort on all days of the week to be made available for medical care of prisoners.
Citing the Amicus Curiae’s report to the HC four years ago, that said, “a substantial number of prisoner deaths and acute illness can be avoided if dealt on an emergency basis,” a source in the prison said the department has improved the facilities, but it lacked in execution and addressing the procedural difficulties. “We are not getting escorts on need basis. We have raised the issue in multiple forums, but nothing has happened. The prisoners continue to suffer,” said a welfare officer, preferring anonymity.
Psychiatric problems
Several prisoners have been suffering from a range of psychiatric problems and diagnosed with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and severe depression. However, they were not given proper medical care. Official apathy on such prisoners as well as on aged prisoners were among the major factors for custodial deaths in the prison. “Several prisoners, who are suffering from mental illness, have died by suicide,” said an activist KR Raja, who insisted that each death in prison warranted judicial probe and the death should be informed to the National Human Rights Commission within 24 hours.
A senior prison official said that sudden cardiac arrest among middle age prisoners and chronic illness among the aged prisoners are the major reasons for deaths in the prisons. However, they have been taking measures to ensure proper medical care to prisoners diagnosed with diseases and also send prisoners with psychiatric illnesses to the Institute of Mental Health in Chennai.
Several prisoners, who are suffering from mental illness, have died by suicide, said KR Raja, an activist, demanding judicial probe into each death