New Delhi: As many as 30% of posts of jail staff are vacant across the country, Union minister Ajay Kumar Mishra told Parliament on Wednesday.
In response to Bharatiya Janata Party member Mahesh Poddar’s question, Mishra said Jharkhand has the highest number of vacancies. Of the 2,609 sanctioned posts, 63% or 1,644 are vacant, followed by Ladakh (62%), Uttar Pradesh (53.3%) and Bihar (40.7%).
Mishra said jails in almost all states and Union territories except Lakshadweep are understaffed. Jails in Daman and Diu are overstaffed.
Mishra said the budget allocated for prisons in 2020-21 came down by 2.9% to 6740.6 crore from 6,942.3 crore in 2019-20. Uttar Pradesh received the highest allocation of 1125.6 crore of which 810.4 crore have been utilised.
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Mishra said prisons are a state subject and the administration and management of jails, including filling up of vacancies, is the responsibility of respective governments. He added the Centre has issued advisories for periodic assessment of the strength of all categories of prison staff and for steps to fill up the vacancies.
