Team Goemkarponn
PANAJI: The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) has directed the Inspector General of Prisons to submit a detailed compliance report by November 10, following a petition from People’s Watch, a Madurai-based human rights organisation, calling for oversight of the Supreme Court’s directives on ensuring disability-friendly prison reforms nationwide.
The Supreme Court, in its landmark judgment delivered on July 15, ruled in favour of a person with 80 per cent disability who had suffered neglect while in custody. The apex court mandated that all prisons in the country must be made accessible and inclusive in accordance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
The order instructed all State governments and prison departments to identify inmates with disabilities, remove physical barriers, provide necessary assistive equipment, collect and maintain disability-specific data, and amend prison manuals to prevent any form of discrimination.
In its plea before the GHRC, People’s Watch pointed out that the Supreme Court had clearly assigned State Human Rights Commissions the responsibility of monitoring compliance. The organisation quoted the judgment, stating that the Director General of Prisons must submit a comprehensive compliance report to the respective State Human Rights Commission within three months.
The human rights body urged the GHRC to ensure that Goa’s prisons implement the mandated measures, including accessible infrastructure such as ramps and toilets, facilities for physiotherapy and psychotherapy, regular accessibility audits, sensitisation of medical personnel, and provision of a balanced diet suited to prisoners’ health conditions.
It further recommended that all prison staff undergo mandatory training on the rights and needs of persons with disabilities—covering sensitivity, equality, proper communication, and respectful conduct—in line with the UN Handbook on Prisoners with Special Needs.
