'ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1862-63’ [‎65v] (126/266)

Bombay]
APPENDIX TO JUDICIAL REPORT.
my earnest endeavour, in reliance on the cordial cooperation oi the officers in charge of
Jails, to prevent the recurrence of similar delay in future.
7. It is, perhaps, impossible to over-estimate the importance of complete uniformity
in all Jail returns, whether they be furnished monthly or annually. In the Lower
Provinces the returns necessary to the compilation of the mass of statistical data,, which
is now necessary for the preparation of the annual report, are supplied monthly; and
Dr. Mouat reports that from the period being short and well defined, and the calcula
tions not extending over an extraordinary length of time, “ great accuracy can be secured
with comparatively little expenditure of time and trouble.” It will be my endeavour
to adopt this practice, if possible, as tending to greater facility in preparing the Annual
Statements, and greater punctuality in submitting the Annual Report in which they are
embodied.
8. This officer is now, I believe, engaged in the preparation of a general Prison
Code for the whole of India—a duty for which his long experience and deep practical
knowledge of the subject eminently qualify him, and one which I trust will result not
only in complete similarity of practice and in a uniform system of prison labour, but in
the progress of discipline, sanitation, economy, and, let me also add, of criminal reforma
tion throughout the Jails in this country.
9. In addition to the Jails inspected in this presidency The name given to each of the three divisions of the territory of the East India Company, and later the British Raj, on the Indian subcontinent. , to be presently noticed,
I have enjoyed the opportunity afforded me by the Resolution of Government, No. 3668
of the 29th November 1862, of visiting, since the date of my last report, some of the
principal Jails in India, and have thereby gained an amount of experience and personal
acquaintance with the descriptions of prison buildings, the different systems in force—dis
ciplinary, financial, and sanitary—in the other presidencies which would by more indirect
means have been unattainable.
10. I have also had the privilege of personal intercourse with officers of experience
and distinction at the head of the prison departments in other parts of India, and oi
learning their views on different subjects connected with our prison systems in this
country, which have been both valuable and instructive.
11. The prisons alluded to above are here marginally noted. As they have already
Ootacamund. Oudh.
1 NatiTe ean P do ° n Lucknow—Central prison. formed the subject of communica-
Punjaub.
Madras.
Penitentiary.
2 Smaller jails.
Lower Provinces.
tions to Government (No. 615
of the 9th April last, and No. 718
of 27th idem), further allusion to
them in this place is unnecessary.
Delhi.
Lahore—Central prison.
Mooltan.
Alipore.
Burdwan.
House of Correction.
Sind.
Shikarpoor.
Hydrahad.
Kurrachee.
N. JV. Provinces.
Benares
Allahabi Central
Agra i prism
Meerut.. .. J
prisons.
Since taking charge o! the duties ol this office on the 4th of February
Inspection.
1862, the Jails enumerated in the margin have been visited
2