Phone facility extended to all Tihar inmates

NEW DELHI: Prisoners, irrespective of the offences committed by them, lodged in Tihar jail can now interact with their family members as the authorities have decided to extend the telephone facility to all its inmates.

Serious, multiple and habitual offenders were barred from getting the telephone facility for security reason.

"We have decided to extend the telephone facility to all inmates irrespective of the offence committed by them," DG Tihar Prisons Neeraj Kumar said.

Serious offenders charged under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA) and Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act (TADA) were barred from using the telephone facility to prevent any potential misuse, he said.

"If a foreign national, irrespective of the crime committed, lodged in Tihar jail can make telephone calls to friends, family members and lawyers in the city and outside, then why not an Indian criminal. We feared misuse earlier but after the introduction of recording facility we decided to open it to all," Tihar Prisons law officer Sunil Gupta said.

However, the facility does not come free of cost. An inmate interested to avail the facility will have to shell out Rs 100 for making local calls and Rs 200 for outstation calls for a month's time.

The inmates can use only two listed numbers given by them to the jail authorities. Also, all telephonic conversations will be recorded as a security precaution.