(1)Each prison shall have a mail branch for handling all matters pertaining to mail of the prisoners. This branch may be equipped with necessary screening and other equipment required for thorough censoring. Prisoners mail, both incoming and outgoing, shall be carefully censored.(2)On initial admission, a prisoner may be asked to give a list of persons with whom he is likely to correspond during his period of imprisonment. As far as practicable, this list shall be scrutinised.(3)Prisoners may be allowed to write letters at the scale mentioned below:(a)Four letters per calendar month; two at Government cost and two at prisoner's cost to Class I prisoners;(b)Two letters per calendar month; one at Government cost and one at his own cost to Class II prisoners.(4)Ordinarily, prisoners may be allowed post cards. Envelopes may be issued or permitted, only when considered essential by the Superintendent.(5)A prisoner may be allowed to write letters to his near relatives and friends only. Where it is found that the prisoner is corresponding with undesirable persons or vice-versa or if any correspondence is considered detrimental to the prisoners' rehabilitation, such letters, both, incoming and outgoing, shall be withheld. Prisoners may be informed of the action taken without divulging the contents of such letters received. If necessary, they may be warned in this respect.(6)A prisoner may at the discretion of the Superintendent be allowed additional letters for legal purposes, normally at his own cost and if he has not enough money, at Government cost.(7)There shall be no limit on the number of incoming letters of prisoners.(8)Facilities for sending telegram and letters by registered post or by any other mode may be extended in suitable cases at prisoner's cost.(9)Prisoners shall not be allowed to correspond with inmates of other prisons. If, however, a prisoner has got his near relative in another prison, he may be permitted to send welfare letters only.(10)Letters both incoming and outgoing with objectionable, cryptic or suspicious contents shall be withheld under intimation to the prisoner.(11)The right to disallow letters to prisoners for reasons of security, discipline or during periods of emergencies will be exercised by the authorities concerned as and when necessary.(12)A letter from a prisoner merely arranging an interview shall not be counted as a letter for the purpose of this rule.(13)A prisoner may with the permission of the Superintendent substitute a letter for an interview or vice-versa.(14)A civil prisoner shall be allowed to write a letter when he wishes to do so if he provides himself with his own writing materials. The Jailor may under the orders of the Superintendent open and examine any letter to and from a civil prisoner and withhold a letter, which appears to him to be objectionable until the prisoner is entitled to be released. Where a civil prisoner is found to be abusing the privilege of writing or receiving letters, it may be withheld under the orders of the Superintendent who shall record his reasons in Form No. XXI. No visitor shall be allowed to take within the prison any articles without the permission of the Superintendent.(15)The provisions of these rules providing for privileges in respect of interviews and letters shall mutatis mutandis apply to civil prisoners as they apply in relation to unconvicted criminal prisoners.
