Directing all jails in the national capital to depute a counsellor or psychiatrist for the benefit of inmates throughout the year, the Delhi High Court said that a prisoner’s right to dignity as well as mental and emotional health should be protected to enhance the chances of social re-integration post release.

“While imprisonment restricts the right to liberty, it does not restrict other human rights of the convict. It is crucial to ensure that the right of prisoners to dignity and their mental and emotional health is protected so that chances of their social re-integration after their release from the prison are increased,” the court said in a recent order.

“In case a convict is found to be experiencing such mental and emotional health issues in prison, counselling or alternative therapies and meditation facilities be provided to the inmate. All the prisons in Delhi should have a counsellor/psychiatrist posted throughout the year who will be available to a convict who identifies or recognises his own emotional or mental health issue or it is identified by the concerned Superintendent Jail/Warden, who will produce such inmate for consultation/counselling before the psychiatrist,” it added.

Additionally, the court said the prison administration should be sensitised about issues of mental and emotional health of inmates.

“The life event of long incarceration will generally deprive the convict of positive emotions and satisfaction with life. Fear, anxiety, frustration and anger may drive such convicts to behave differently as they may consider it as a setback and may not be able to cope with it due to long incarceration,” the court said.

The court’s order came on a petition for parole by a murder convict serving a life term. The convict’s lawyer said since his arrest in 2013, he has continuously remained in jail. Refusing relief, the court noted that the petitioner’s conduct has not been satisfactory in the jail and he invited punishments on 13 occasions for violating prison rules.