The Supreme Court on 15 September asked all High Courts to register a suo motu petition to identify kin of prisoners who died an unnatural death after 2012, and award suitable compensation to them.
It also directed all the states to study the availability of medical assistance to prisoners and take remedial steps wherever necessary.
“The state governments are directed to appoint counsellors and support persons for counselling prisoners, particularly first-time offenders. In this regard the services of recognised NGOs can be taken and encouraged,” the SC bench said.
The bench asked the Secretary General of the apex court to sent the copy of its verdict to the Registrar General of every high court within a week.
The top court also directed the Ministry of Woman and Child Development to discuss with the official concerned of the state governments and “formulate procedures for tabulating the number of children (if any) who suffer an unnatural death in child care institutions where they are kept in custody either because they are in conflict with law or because they need care and protection”.
The bench is hearing a 2013 PIL on prevailing inhuman conditions prevailing in 1,382 prisons across the country.
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