The country-wide lockdown due to coronavirus has halted several operations causing frustration among people including the prison inmates rising due to restrictions imposed on them such as cancellation of family visits, hearing of bail applications due to the closure of courts, limiting physical activities due to physical distancing norms to avoid transmission of the pandemic.
The chairpersons and member secretaries of district legal services authorities have been directed to interact with the inmates during the lock-down period.
The High Powered Committee headed by Justice Aravind Kumar of the Karnataka High Court has directed the authorities to visit prisons within their respective jurisdiction at least twice a week to interact with prisoners and assuage their frustration.
The authorities were also told to allow the prisoners to use a landline phone to contact their families.
