247. Hours, procedure and place of holding interviews with prisoners.
(1)Interviews shall ordinarily be granted on such working days as may be prescribed from time to time by the Inspector General from 9.00 a. m. to 12 noon and from 3 p. m. to 5 p. m. subject to such adjustment as the Superintendent may direct according to local conditions and requirements. The hours of interviews so adjusted shall be notified in front of the prison gate, the visitors' waiting room and the inquiry office, if there is one.(2)Except with the permission of the Superintendent, no interviews shall be granted on Sundays and prison holidays. Such interviews shall be entered in the Interview Register, after recording the reasons in brief of the exceptional circumstances in which the interview was given in column No. 10 of the register.(3)Ordinarily, the time allowed for an interview shall not exceed half an hour. However, the Superintendent at his discretion may extend this.(4)Not more than three persons shall be permitted to be present at an interview: Provided that when a prisoner has an interview with father, mother, brother, sister, husband, wife and children or a joint interview with his friends and relatives, the number of persons permitted to interview the prisoner shall not exceed five.(5)In the case of dangerous prisoners or prisoners who present disciplinary or custody risks, interviews shall necessarily be granted in a room equipped with appropriate precautionary barriers, hidden camera and short-circuit television etc. Prison authorities shall decide in their discretion as to which prisoners should be granted interviews in such a room.(6)Prisoners shall be thoroughly searched before they enter the interview area and also after the interview is over.(7)During an interview, prisoners may be allowed to discuss domestic and family welfare matters and to give instructions as to how the lawful business, which they were conducting prior to their conviction, should be transacted. The prisoners shall not be allowed to use these interviews for any other purpose. If objectionable matters start getting discussed, the Jailor in charge of the interview may discontinue the interview forthwith.(8)Approved books, clothing articles, toilet articles and money brought by interviewers may be deposited in the prison office as prisoner's property. The prisoners shall not be allowed to receive cigarettes, bidees, tobacco or such other items at the time of the interview and shall also not be received at the prison office. Articles like food, eatables and fruits shall be allowed to be received to the extent of personal requirements, maximum for a fortnight after thorough examination by a Senior Officer.(9)A prisoner on hunger strike shall not be granted interviews and other facilities.(10)Where a prisoner is admitted in the prison hospital as an indoor patient and the Medical Officer certifies that he is unable to go to the interview room, the interview shall be granted in the hospital.(11)Where a prisoner is admitted in a Civil Hospital as an indoor patient, every interview shall be granted by the Officer in charge of the interviews of the prison, from which the prisoner is sent to the Civil Hospital but with the concurrence of the Medical Officer at the Hospital.(12)Prisoners may not be granted interviews for reasons of security or discipline or during periods of emergencies. The decision of the Superintendent in such matters shall be final.(13)Every interview shall be granted at a place reserved for the purpose, which shall generally be at or near the main gate of the prison.(14)The interviews to women prisoners shall, as far as possible, be given at the Women's section of the prison. In a prison where there is no separate women's section, interview to women prisoners shall be given singly and shall not be given along with other men convicts.(15)Notwithstanding anything contained in this rule, the Superintendent may for reasons to be recorded in writing refuse any interview to which a prisoner is entitled under these rules, if in his opinion, such an interview is likely to be against the public interest.
