NHRC takes suo motu cognizance of media report indicating that 42% of prisoners in Punjab jails are drug addicts

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report indicating that 42 percent of prisoners in Punjab jails are drug addicts. The commission has issued notices to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Prisons of Punjab and Chandigarh. It has called for a detailed action taken report on the matter within four



weeks. 

The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report if found to be true, raise a serious issue of human rights violation of the inmates lodged in different jails in Punjab and Chandigarh. The Commission has also sought reports on the steps taken to save the prisoners of Punjab and Chandigarh jails from the menace of drugs.