HC forms panel over education of Tihar inmates

New Delhi, May 19 (UNI) The Delhi High Court has constituted a five-member committee to visit Tihar prisons on Monday and submit by Friday an outline of curriculum appropriate for education of the inmates.

Justice Manmohan Sarin and Justice Manju Goel observed that the panel headed by RP Singh, DG (Prisons), will have on the board V Mohan Rai, Director (Directorate of Adult education, HRD Ministry), Sushil Salwan (Trustee of Public and Montessori schools), Director of Department of Crafts training (Dept of Technical Education), and Mr Goel from Department of Adult Education.

The High Court took the suo motu notice on May 5, 2006, when the Prison administration submitted a report on introduction of 'Education for Prisoners'.

The judges after perusal of the report, today observed that the classes should be held in a separate classroom and not in the barracks as mooted by the DG.

The court observed that the DG (Prison) should get a separate classroom with basic facilities like tubelights, fans, ventilators, cement or mosaic floor, and RCC roof constructed.

Because the prisoners should be encouraged to take up reading and writing, Justice Sarin observed, adding that it would result in arrest of crimes.

Counsel for the Central Government Rajeev Mehra informed the court that the government had agreed to allocate Rs 72.38 lakh against the proposed estimate drawn for requirement of funds.

The HRD Ministry, he further submitted, has also agreed to provide the inmates with reading materials.

However, the court was concerned over what should be right and most-suitable curriculum for the Tihar inmates.

The subject saw exchange of many views among the lawyers and the justices, who consciously treaded a pragmatic approach separating theoretical models from realistic approach.

"Too many cooks will spoil the broth", warned Justice Sarin against considering too many models for selection of a curriculum.

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