Jail psychologists: HC orders notice on plea

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has ordered notice on a writ plea asking that the State and DGP be directed to appoint correctional officers (psychologists, social workers and welfare officers) in all the State’s prisons and Borstal Schools.The PIL from advocate S Gnaneswaran of Puraswalkam came up for hearing before the first Bench comprising Chief Justice MY Eqbal and Justice TS Sivagnanam on Monday. The bench directed the government pleader to obtain instructions. The Advocate-General would appraise the government of the appointment of correctional officers, the bench said, and posted the matter for hearing after two weeks. The petitioner had contended that though mandatory, many prisons, housing thousands of prisoners, lacked correctional officers whose duty it was to study and prepare a report of the mental and physical conditions of the prisoners. The officer also interviews every prisoner and establish a sense of cooperation and understanding among them.