Why Did TN Shut Down 14 Sub-Jails?

Chennai, June 28 (NationPress) The Tamil Nadu government has made the significant decision to permanently close 14 Sub-Jails, reducing the network from 96 to 82 facilities. This move aims to reallocate personnel and resources to busier prisons throughout the State. Included in this list is the Cheyyar sub-jail located in Tiruvannamalai, which has served as a special camp for Sri Lankan Tamil refugees since March 2014.

Out of the 14 facilities, five had already been inactive due to temporary shutdowns that occurred between 2013 and 2020.

The Government Order (GO), which was endorsed by Additional Chief Secretary Dheeraj Kumar, follows a recommendation made by DGP (Prisons and Correctional Services) Maheshwar Dayal.

According to a senior prison official, “It is purely for administrative reasons,” emphasizing that staff and resources from less-utilized jails can now support overcrowded sub-jails, district jails, and central prisons.

Each sub-jail has a sanctioned staff of 13 employees, which includes one assistant jailer, two chief head warders, two head warders, six grade II warders, a cook, and a scavenger.

These positions will be reassigned to prisons facing staffing shortages as soon as the closures are finalized.

Along with Cheyyar, the facilities designated for closure include Rasipuram and Paramathi Velur (Namakkal), Manaparai and Musiri (Tiruchy), Madurantakam (Chengalpattu), and nine other long-dormant sites.

The Home Department had proposed closing four additional sub-jails—Tiruvidaimaruthur (Thanjavur), Cuddalore, Tiruttani (Tiruvallur), and Polur (Tiruvannamalai)—but this proposal was not approved.

Inmates currently residing in the affected sub-jails will be moved to the nearest functioning prisons. Supplies of civil provisions, arms, and ammunition will also be transferred to the central prisons overseeing each facility.

The land and buildings that become available due to these closures will be turned over to the Revenue Department for future utilization.

The Cheyyar camp, designated as a special facility in 2014 for detaining Sri Lankan Tamils involved with the Passport Act for overstaying or criminal activities, will likewise revert to the control of the Revenue Department.

Since its conversion over a decade ago, the camp has been supervised by the Q Branch. Officials indicate that this reallocation will help address staffing shortages without increasing the department’s payroll.

A timeline for the transfer of prisoners and personnel is anticipated to be announced in the upcoming weeks.