The Institution of Ombudsman for Indian Prisons: A Comparative Study of Existing Global Models for Enhancing Accountability, Transparency, and Inmate Rights

Abstract

An Ombudsman is an impartial official who is independent of the authority being complained about, and is appointed to investigate and resolve complaints by an individual against a government department, public authority, or organisation. The primary purpose of an Ombudsman is to improve fairness, transparency and accountability in public administration. The Indian penal system is now not developing in its search for relevance. Although Indian prisoners want to be looked into with justice and responsibility, this concept has yet to be discussed thoroughly. It states this proposed new entity, an Ombudsman for India's prisons, with the vision of greater accountability, openness, and protection of the rights of inmates. Through comparing different worldwide models, including that of the Prisons and Probation Ombudsman in the UK, the Office of the Correctional Investigator in Canada, and the Ombudsman Office in Norway and New Zealand, this researchh paper demonstrates the seamless operation of prisons and resolution of issues of paramount importance, such as prisoner abuse, overcrowding, and lack of adequate mechanisms for complaints. An independent prison ombudsman in India, the paper states, would act as a means of settling inmate grievances and ensuring just treatment of prisoners, hence further opening up the penal system. The paper ends with a suggestion to build a sound ombudsman system, which will fit in with India's legislative and sociopolitical context to further jail management efficiency while keeping ajar the eyes on protecting the fundamental rights of prisoners. The advent of Ombudsman institutions within the Indian jail system is thus a leap forward. Ombudsman institutions have the power to change Indian jails into places that respect human dignity and the rule of law by making sure that the views of the most marginalised people are heard and their rights are upheld.