The administrative system of Travancore reveals that formerly there were only two jails – one at Trivandrum and the other at Quilon, for securing the convicts maintained by the Sircar and they were employed to repair the roads, cultivating government lands, etc. every day1. The jails were formerly under the medical charge of Native Physicians whose pay was mere six or seven rupees per mensem which resulted in uncleanliness and excessive mortality. About 1860 A.D. the medial charge was transferred to the Durban Physician as Principal Medical Officer of Government and to each jail was attached medical subordinates2.
In 1862-63, Administrative Report mentions, besides the three principal jails at Trivandrum, Quilon and Alleppey, small jails had been attached to Zillah Criminal Courts chiefly for the confinement of prisoner’s trial3. In 1872-73, the number of jails were raised to four. All the jails were under the general control of the Dewan4. The charge of the jails was rested with the Superintendents or the Jailors5.
The prisoners were locked up at night and were guarded by Jail Warders and Brigade Sepoys. Prisoners sentenced to simple imprisonment had no work, while those sentenced to rigorous imprisonment had work of various kinds like repairing of roads, garden work carting provisions, drawing water for cooking and cleaning purposes, making their own fetters, etc. Brahmins and females of all classes were exempted from hard labour or labour of any kind. Food supplied to prisoners varied depending on their nature of imprisonment and work. Civil debtors were paid by their creditors at the rate of five chs. each per day through the Courts. All prisoners, except civil debtors were given a cloth every six month and a carpet every third year6.
A hospital, located in a separate building was attached to the jail and the prisoners taken ill were removed to this hospital. At the time of epidemics, suffering prisoners were removed to the jail hospital, while ordinary patients were treated within the Jail building. A Sub-Assistant Surgeon was the head of the Jail Medical wing and he was assisted by two Apothecaries. Interviews with pleaders and relatives were permitted daily.
No remission system, whatever existed. The Superintendent of the Central Jail was authorized to inflict six cuts on the back with a rattan for insubordination or breach of Jail discipline but there was no deprivation of food, as one of the punishments. At that time, there was no authorized code of Prison Regulations force. There was one Court Jail at Nagercoil7. In 1880, steps were taken towards the reformation of jail administration based on a report submitted by the Superintendent of Central Jail, who was sent to the British jail at Cannanore to study the jail disciplines and the system of jail administration in vogue there. As a result, intramural labour was slowly and gradually introduced in the Central Jail. Native cloths, cotton carpet, coir rugs, chain fetters and carts for jail use were manufactured by convict labour8.
The scale of dietary was revised and improved on the pattern of British Prisons. During 1881-82 a printing press was established. Provision was made for the inspection of the jail by official visitors. Provision was also made for the release of convicts suffering from incurable diseases, disabling them for ever from the commission of crimes. During 1890-91, a set of rules sanctioned by the Maharaja provided for the grant of a small money to destitute convicts on their release, to enable them to reach their homes9. For this purpose, the Superintendent was given a permanent advance of Rs. 15/- a month. A committee with the Durbar Physician as President, was appointed in 1895-96, a regulation was passed adopting the British Indian Enactment (1894 Act).10 To acquaint himself with the details of prison administration the Superintendent was sent on deputation to Madras and Vellore11.
During 1896-97 some of the recommendations of the Jail Committee were adopted which were
- Introduction of convict’s ticket.
- Introduction of fortnightly weighments.
- Adoption of steps for the recognition of habitual offenders.
- Introduction of dietary prescribed in the Prison Rules, etc12.
The next year, the Prisons Regulations was fully brought into operation. Some of the important features of this are disabandment of police guard attached to jail, abolition of extramural labours, introduction of remission system and the introduction of taking finger impressions of the convicts. In 1899-1900 the system of taking anthropometrical measurement of the convicts was discontinued and taking of finger tip impression was substituted in its place. The system of awarding good conduct strips to warders was also introduced in this year13. Though not much was expressed about the district jail, the management of the Central Jail has always been favourably commented upon by high level authorities as jail visitors.
In an Administration Report of Travancore, there is a mention about the functioning of eight prisons at various stations like Bhoothapandy, Agasteeswaram, Kottar, Eraniel, Kalkulam, Vilavancode, Colachel and Thiruvattar during 191014. The number of prisoners who were in the lock-ups was 180. The number of prisoners who were put in these prisons during 1911-12 and 1912-13 were 476 and 402 respectively15. The Sub-jail, Nagercoil located in the Nagercoil town was established during 1955 by the Travancore – Cochin Government and now it has accommodation for 84 prisoners16.
The Sub-jails are meant for the confinement of remand and under trial prisoners. Convict prisoners who are sentenced to imprisonment for one month and less are kept in these jails. Prisoners sentenced to one month and above, are sent to Central Prison for undergoing punishment awarded by the Courts. The Superintendent, Central Prison, is the Controlling Officer of the Sub-jail. Each Sub-jail is in charge of one Assistant Jailor or Superintendent, assisted by Warders in the day-to-day administration. Apart from the Assistant Jailor, One Junior Assistant, one chief Head Warder and six Grade II Warders are working17.
Remand and under trial prisoners to the Sub-jails are not utilized for any work. However, their services are utilized for cooking and to bring water and clean the jail premises. The sick patients are attended to by the visiting Medical Officers of the local Government Hospitals. Serious cases are transferred to Government Headquarters Hospital for treatment. Duty Counsels of the State Legal Aid Board are attached to all central prisons and sub-jails. The lawyers attached to these Duty Counsels visit the sub-jails regularly and render necessary legal assistance to the needy prisoners. The under trial prisoners may also avail of this opportunity to get their trials disposed off quickly and in the meantime to move the courts for bail, etc.
Dr. C. Sankar, Assistant Professor of History, Lord Jegannath College of Education, PSN Nagar, Kanyakumari District.
References
- V. Nagam Aiya, The Travancore State Manual, Vol.III, Trivandrum, 1906, p.482.
- M. Gopalakrishnan (Ed.,), Kanniyakumari District Gazetteer, Madras, 1995, p.647.
- Travancore State Administration Report 1862-63, Trivandrum, 1863, p.449.
- M. Gopalakrishnan (Ed.,), op.cit., p.648.
- Ibid.
- Ibid., p.648.
- Travancore Administration Report 1862-63 Trivandrum, 1863, p.449.
- Ibid., p.450.
- M. Gopalakrishnan (Ed.,), op.cit., p.649.
- Ibid.
- Ibid.
- Travancore Administration Report 1862-63, Trivandrum, 1863, p.457.
- M. Gopalakrishnan (Ed.,), op.cit., p.649.
- Report on the Administration of Travancore and Review 1909-1910, Trivandrum, p. XXXXI.
- M. Gopalakrishnan (Ed.,), op.cit., p.650.
- Ibid.
- Ibid.