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Regular-article-logo Saturday, 05 July 2025

Finger scanners for jail attendance - New system to replace old roll call method

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RUDRA BISWAS Published 02.11.03, 12:00 AM

Ranchi, Nov. 2: The home department plans to install “fingerprint scanners” in Jharkhand jails to ensure automatic attendance of the inmates.

The new system would replace the roll-call method at the jails, which is not foolproof.

According to sources, under the new system, fingerprints of the inmates would be fed to a main computer. “At the end of the day, each inmate would be asked to press his/her thumb against the scanner to record the attendance. Jail superintendents across the state have been instructed to compile a list of prisoners, giving details of the nature of offences and the period of punishment.

The list would have to include comprehensive information on inmates — their date of entry into the jail, whether a convict or an undertrial, the nature of offence and the punishment or the prescribed jai- term.

“Once the list is compiled, it would give us a first-hand picture of undertrials who have served jail terms longer than that prescribed under the law for the offence under which they have been booked. This would help us to release prisoners who have served beyond their jail terms,” officials said.

Officials said each jail would be rid of at least 80 per cent of their occupants once the system is put in place. According to sources, at present, around 15,000 prisoners are lodged at the 18 sub-jails and two central jails in Ranchi and Hazaribagh.

A survey conducted by the home department has established that 80 per cent of the inmates were undertrial prisoners either booked under petty and minor offences or have served longer terms than the prescribed punishment.

“The survey established that a number of inmates were too old and infirm and even incapable of committing any offence. In many cases, it has been found that the inmates were too poor to be bailed out,” sources said.

Sources said at Birsa Munda central jail, against the official capacity of 364, the actual number of inmates were from 1,500 to 1,800. Officials said in most cases, many of those booked were for petty offences for which the relevant Acts authorised the respective police stations to grant bail at their end after a preliminary enquiry. “However in most cases, the police are loath to hold an inquiry finding it much easier to lodge their prey at the jails,” they added.

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