Why in news?
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The Supreme Court set up a three-member committee headed by its former judge Justice Amitava Roy to suggest and look after jail reforms across the country.
Mandate of panel
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A bench of said the committee will suggest measures for jail reforms in the country and will look into various issues, including over-crowding in prisons and the issues concerning women prisoners.
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The committee will receive assistance from government officials and will be required to file its reports before the Supreme Court from time to time.
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The court was hearing a plea relating to inhuman conditions in 1,382 prisons across the country.
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In an earlier hearing, the apex court had said it will constitute a committee to deal with issues relating to jails and suggest reforms.
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It had expressed concern on overcrowding of jails across India, observing that prisoners also have human rights and cannot be kept like animals.
Source
The Hindu