'ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ADMINISTRATION OF THE BOMBAY PRESIDENCY, FOR THE YEAR 1909-1910' [‎143r] (15/148)

,1910.3
SUMMARY.
IS
1909
-jail population was remarkably free from disease, the death-rate
17*5 P 6r m ^ e > very slightly higher than in the preceding year when
1 fh-rate was the lowest recorded for the last 30 years excepting only
the unsatisfactory feature is the lack of quarters for the prison staff
res ult that only a few jails have been able to recruit up to the
^ t d strength. There was only a small decrease in the number of juvenile
ga n c ti° n ^ special class for juveniles at Dharwar worked satisfactorily during
offenders.^ ^ S p 0C i a i establishment to continue the work of reformation has
the y ear X marked decrease in the number of escapes is a satisfactory
be0a ^f the administration. While twenty prisoners escaped in the preceding
^ geven got free in the year under report and three of these were
^ tured. Though there has been an increase in the number of offences com-
^■ht^dby prisoners the general discipline of the jails has been satisfactory, and only
1111 6 ’ cent of the prisoners were punished. The new mark remission system met
/ f f the unanimous approval of all jail authorities and the percentage of those
V ased under the system during the year to the total number who might have
f n released, had they been of average good conduct up to the date of release,
08 97*5 The increasing tendency to award sentences of solitary confinement
te caused considerable difficulty owing to the lack of proper accommodation
nd it has been found impossible to carry out all such sentences. The continued
tiah price of staple food-grains and the improved scale of diet awarded to
prisoners in Third Class Subsidiary Jails have increased the dietary charges
I- about Es. 2-| per head. The cash earnings of convicts sentenced to labour have
increased, principally in Yeravda Prison where there was a considerable advance
in the output of the Press.
16. The number of civil cases decided during the year increased by about Civil Justice,
P3 per cent., the increase occurring in all classes of cases except regular appeals.
The increase of about 6 per cent, in the number of suits instituted m the previous
vear coming after a period of progressive reduction was followed this year
hy a further increase of 7 per cent., most marked in mortgage smts-a tact
which finds its principal cause in the operations of sections SO and 31 ot the
new Limitation Act. The advance in the total value of suits was 9 per cent.
The number of suits which remained for disposal at the end of the year was
23 per cent, compared with 21 per cent, in the previous year but t e num erA
suits disposed of increased by nearly 3 per cent. The proportion o con es e
suits, standing at 36f per cent., shows little variation, hut their average dura ion
decreased considerably. Litigiousness is most rampant in Bomiay, ux'ur
Larkana, and Nasik and least prevalent in Thar and Parkar. The number of
appeals presented decreased, hut arrears increased slightly. n P® r
of appeals decided the decree of tbe lower Court was reversec. ^ U1 * ,
decrease was found in the number of applications for execution ecre^s
the balance for disposal in the following year also fell, batis ac ion
obtained in full in a larger proportion of cases, while 61 per cent, were w o y
profitable.
17. The total number of decrees for disposal by Collectors was almost the ^decrees of
as in the preceding vear, hut, as a larger number were rspose o , the Revenue
>lume of arrears was reduced from 58 to 53 per cent, of the total number of Department,
ises for disposal. All divisions, except Sind, ended with a lower ba ance
[ the beginning of the year. The improvement in severa is ric ®
entral Division is ascribed to the more favourable season, bu„ in 1 o
Sects of consecutive bad years, which lead to b ^ng an
es s to pay premia for leases, retarded disposal. ^ I10 . a i
y mutual agreement rose in every division, noticeably m e
B 922—3 s