KATHMANDU, Aug 10: The Ministry of Home Affairs has revised the prison management directives in an attempt to maintain transparency, simplify work procedures and improve the performance of prison staffs and duty holders.

According to the Department of Prison Management, the draft of the new directive that was stalled at the Ministry of Home Affairs since the last four years has now come into effect.

“The revised directive has more flexible provisions on selecting inmate leaders and guards,” said Himnath Dawadi, director general of Department of Prison Development.

“We had to introduce more flexible provisions for selecting the leaders of inmates who work as naike, deputy naike and chaukidar, or guard, as many prisons across the country lacked them due to complex selection procedures,” he said.

As per the new directive, inmates don't have to be at least 40 years of age to be eligible for the post of naike, deputy naike and chaukidar. They would be eligible even if they are 30 if they have served at least a year at the particular prison.

The revised directive also lifts the bar on inmates jailed for committing heinous crimes from serving in the posts.

It is almost impossible to fulfill the posts of chaukidar, naike and deputy naike in the prisons following the strict provision of the past, DG Dawadi said.   

The inmates who were imprisoned for rape, rape attempt, murder, human trafficking, drug smuggling were not allowed to lead those posts in the past.

“If the posts are fulfilled without the endorsement from the director general of the Department of Prison Development, he or she will be ineligible for the facilities provided to them,” provisions in the new directive reads.

The DG can also immediately relieve inmates holding those posts if they are found involved in compromising law and order and engaging in corruption inside the prisons. The tenure of those posts lasts for a year.

NHRC urges govt to shift Khotang prisoners to safer place
Meanwhile, National Human Right Commission on Tuesday had asked the government to shift the prisoners at District Prison Khotang to a safer area from landslide-damaged prison.

The landslide has destroyed prison infrastructure, putting prisoners in danger, the NHRC said, after inspecting the prison few days before. The prison has 94 male and 14 female inmates with five dependent children. The commission has also drawn the attention of the government to take initiative on the health, drinking water and sanitation related problems.

 
• home ministry
 
• prison management directives
 
• ministry of home affairs