By IANS
Thiruvananthapuram : Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan is trying to lift the ban on smoking that was imposed on all jails in the state in 2004.
While the home ministry wants the ban to be lifted on humanitarian grounds, the Law Department feels that if it lifts the ban, it would incur the wrath of the High Court.
"Our job is to advice the government on the legal aspect and it is for the government to decide whether to go ahead with the ban or lift it. We would very soon give our recommendations on this issue," state Law Minister M. Vijayakumar told IANS.
Kerala has 22 jails with about 6504 inmates. Following a 2003 High Court order, the Oommen Chandy government imposed a full-fledged ban on smoking in all the jails in the state. If the home ministry now manages to establish that a jail is not a public place, then the inmates can get ready to smoke.
"Earlier, cigarettes and beedis were available in jail canteens but after the 2004 ban it is no longer available. We have to follow the law and we don't allow smoking at any cost," said Inspector General of Police G. Baburaj.
"If sanctions are lifted, then what would happen tomorrow if someone says they should be permitted to drink liquor inside the jails. It is a tricky issue," he added.