ORDER

Learned amicus curiae has submitted a Note for today's hearing. He has briefly taken us through the Note and highlighted a few issues. They are as follows:

Staff recruitment - It is pointed out by learned amicus curiae that in response to Lok Sabha Starred Question which was answered on 2nd August, 2016, the sanctioned strength of jail officers/staff as on 31st December, 2014 is 79,988. Out of this, the actual strength is only 52,666. Thus, there is a gap of about 27,000 staff/officers as on 31st December, 2014. Since the question was answered in the Lok Sabha on 2nd August, 2016, it is unlikely that there has been a substantial improvement since that date.

In view of the above, we direct all the State Governments and Union Territories to take immediate steps to fill up the existing vacancies and initiate concrete steps in this regard on or before 31st March, 2017. The steps taken by each State/Union Territory should be intimated to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India which will instruct the learned Additional Solicitor General accordingly.

2. It has also been pointed out that there are serious deficiencies in the training of jail officers/staff. It appears that ove