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Since 2000, the National Crime Record Bureau (NCRB) has been publishing annual data on deaths in Indian jails, providing insight into the circumstances surrounding these incidents. Categorized as "natural" and "unnatural" deaths, approximately 1,800 individuals have been dying in Indian prisons each year for over two decades. However, in 2021, the number of prisoner deaths rose significantly to 2,116, prompting the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to issue a 21-page advisory on managing prison deaths, particularly those resulting from suicide.

The advisory, released on June 19, focuses on mitigating self-harm and suicide attempts by prisoners. Recognizing that prison suicides are influenced by medical and mental health issues, the NHRC emphasizes the need to increase prison staff and provide adequate training. It also recommends screening incarcerated individuals upon entry, closely monitoring high-risk prisoners, and establishing a collaborative framework to address suicide prevention in prisons.

Despite issuing a similar advisory in 2014, the NHRC acknowledges that the number of deaths has not decreased over the past decade. Consequently, the commission has issued a more comprehensive guideline this time, emphasizing the need to fill vacancies and augment staff strength in Indian prisons.

India's prisons suffer from severe staff shortages, with vacant positions remaining unfilled year after year. The number of sanctioned positions does not account for the problem of overcrowding, which has reached alarming levels in some prisons, exceeding 500%. Specifically, there is a shortage of medical officers, with only a fraction of the required positions filled. As a result, one medical officer is responsible for the health concerns of a significantly high number of prisoners.

Moreover, the distribution of hospital staff is uneven, with states like Bihar and Uttar Pradesh having the highest number of vacancies. In the absence of sufficient medical officers, prisoners are often transported to external hospitals. Due to the lack of independent inquiries, deaths in prisons are frequently labeled as "natural," despite potential foul play or suspicious circumstances.

In addition, the NHRC's efforts to address deaths in custody have been hindered by non-compliance with mandatory judicial magisterial inquiries. While the NHRC requires timely intimation of deaths in custody and relevant reports, it has faced challenges in accessing these details, even under the Right to Information Act. The data also highlights the prevalence of mental illnesses among prisoners, but inadequate mental health practitioners hinder early diagnosis and intervention. The NHRC's advisory recommends involving medical staff in screening prisoners and suggests increased surveillance measures, such as CCTVs, to address suicidal ideation. However, an excessive focus on surveillance in a hierarchical system may lead to further human rights violations.

In summary, the NCRB's annual data sheds light on deaths in Indian jails, and the alarming rise in prisoner deaths has spurred the NHRC to issue an advisory emphasizing the need for preventive measures, increased staff strength, and better mental health support. However, systemic challenges, including staff shortages and lack of accountability, continue to pose significant hurdles in addressing the complex issues surrounding deaths in prisons.