The inmates of the Machilipatnam Special Sub Jail and Sub Jail, Nuzvid, will be allowed to telephone their family members and lawyer twice a week from Monday. As part of this, the prison authorities have set up special telephone booths with coin-box device in the jails.
“An undertrial prisoner can contact his family members, friends and even lawyers to discuss bail and other matters. A call data of each individual will be maintained,” Machilipatnam Special Sub Jail Superintendent V. Durga Rao said. One is likely to be allowed to speak over the coin-box telephone for 10 minutes at a stretch.
“The inmates will deposit cash with us towards spending it on the outgoing call facility. One will be denied access to the facility if he/she discusses offensive matters,” Mr. Rao said. Discussions on censor and prison administration issues will be strictly restricted. Also, no incoming calls will be entertained, he added.
