Reported by Mrinal Kanti Banik
Agartala: The High Court of Tripura has directed the state government to constitute a State Level Monitoring Committee by June 15 to review prison conditions, assess the functioning of Open Correctional Institutions (OCIs) and examine facilities available for disabled inmates in correctional homes across the state.
A division bench comprising M.S. Ramachandra Rao and Biswajit Palit issued the order while hearing a suo motu writ petition initiated in line with a recent directive of the Supreme Court of India on prison reforms.
The court observed that although the process to form the committee has begun, it has not yet been formally constituted. The state government was instructed to complete all necessary formalities and make the panel operational by June 15, 2026.
The bench also directed the committee to submit quarterly status reports starting from August 21, 2026.
The order follows a February 2026 judgment by the, which called upon all states and Union Territories to strengthen and expand Open Correctional Institutions as part of a broader humane prison reform policy.
The apex court had stressed that prison administration must uphold constitutional protections guaranteed under Articles 14, 15 and 21, while highlighting that open prisons play a crucial role in rehabilitation, social reintegration and reducing overcrowding in conventional jails.
The Supreme Court also expressed concern over the poor implementation of OCIs in several states, particularly the exclusion of women prisoners from such facilities. It further emphasised the need for safeguards and better living conditions for inmates with disabilities.
The case originally stemmed from a petition related to overcrowding and humane prison conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic, which later expanded to address wider prison reform issues across the country.
