High-Level Committee Exposes Critical Failings at Karnataka's Largest Prison
A high-level committee has submitted a damning report on Parappana Agrahara Central Prison, Karnataka's largest jail facility. The panel, headed by Additional Director General of Police R Hitendra, presented its findings to Home Minister G Parameshwara on Wednesday. The report paints a picture of an institution operating on the brink of systemic collapse.
The committee conducted a comprehensive review of Parappana Agrahara along with other central prisons across Karnataka. These included facilities in Mysuru, Shivamogga, Bellary, and Kalaburagi. The panel benchmarked these prisons against established best practices followed at Tihar Jail in Delhi and Chanchalguda Prison in Telangana.
Severe Staff Shortage Creates Dangerous Conditions
The report highlights an alarming staff shortage at Parappana Agrahara. The prison currently houses 4,834 inmates but employs only 571 staff members. This leaves a staggering 388 posts completely vacant.
This severe shortage creates a dangerous prisoner-to-staff ratio of 1:9. This figure far exceeds the 1:6 ratio recommended by the Model Prison Manual. The situation becomes even more critical when accounting for three daily shifts. During each shift, the ratio effectively rises to 1:27. This means a single officer must supervise nearly thirty inmates simultaneously.
Other central prisons in the state face similar, though slightly less severe, challenges. Mysuru Central Prison operates with 774 inmates and 133 staff. Bellary prison manages 457 inmates with just 93 staff members. The committee has urgently called for filling all vacant positions immediately.
Outdated Security Systems and Infrastructure Gaps
The committee identified multiple critical security failures. Mobile phone smuggling remains rampant within Parappana Agrahara. This problem persists largely because the prison's jamming equipment cannot block modern 5G signals. Despite a Karnataka High Court order in 2021 mandating strict control of mobile devices, the outdated technology creates exploitable gaps.
Infrastructure deficiencies compound these security issues. Unlike the benchmark prisons of Tihar and Chanchalguda, Parappana Agrahara lacks a proper buffer zone. This absence leaves the facility highly vulnerable to smuggling activities. Boundary walls often measure under twenty feet in height, while watchtowers remain too low for effective surveillance.
The surveillance system itself is critically weak. Parappana Agrahara has installed only 332 CCTV cameras. This covers a mere 6.6 percent of the inmate population. For comparison, Tihar Jail operates with 8,600 cameras. Most barracks remain completely unmonitored, and toilets lack camera coverage entirely, relying instead on limited voice-recording devices.
Administrative and Welfare Deficiencies
The report also flags serious administrative lapses. First-time offenders are routinely housed alongside habitual criminals. Women staff members are frequently misallocated to inappropriate duties. Formal Prison Visitor Boards rarely convene as required.
Welfare programs for inmates are virtually nonexistent. Parappana Agrahara offers minimal opportunities for skill development or vocational training. This stands in stark contrast to facilities like Chanchalguda Prison, which prioritize inmate rehabilitation.
Between January 2021 and November 2025, authorities registered 154 FIRs in Bengaluru concerning illegal activities within Central Prisons. As of November 15, 2025, all 154 cases remain pending at the police station level, indicating a severe backlog in addressing prison-related crimes.
Committee Recommendations for Immediate Action
The high-level committee has proposed a comprehensive set of recommendations to address these critical failures:
- Staffing Reforms: Fill all 388 vacant posts without delay. Implement a mandatory staff rotation policy every three years, including a two-year cooling-off period. Establish annual modern training programs for all prison officers.
- Security Upgrades: Immediately upgrade all mobile jammers to 5G-compatible systems. Install portable, low-intensity jammers in identified blind spots. Place all jamming controls strictly under the Chief Superintendent's authority to prevent misuse.
- Infrastructure Improvements: Raise boundary walls to a minimum height of thirty feet. Install fine-mesh anti-throwing nets and solar fencing. Increase the height of all watchtowers for better visibility.
- Surveillance Enhancement: Implement round-the-clock monitoring systems. Install AI-enabled cameras capable of detecting prohibited activities like smoking or mobile phone use. Equip all officers with body-worn cameras. Establish a central command centre for real-time monitoring across all facilities.
- Welfare Initiatives: Develop low-capital prison industries to provide vocational training. Introduce wellness activities including yoga and meditation sessions. Provide regular mental health counselling for inmates. Create post-release employment support programs.
- Administrative Overhaul: Segregate first-time offenders from habitual criminals. Ensure proper allocation of all staff, particularly women officers. Strengthen oversight mechanisms and ensure Prison Visitor Boards meet regularly.
New Command Centre and Future Plans
The state government plans to officially launch a Central Prison Command Centre on January 21. This facility will provide continuous, round-the-clock monitoring of prisons across Karnataka. The centre will oversee 900 CCTV cameras installed in various jails, all upgraded with advanced AI technology.
Modelled on successful command centres used for traffic and police management, this new facility will focus exclusively on prison security. Drone cameras will supplement traditional surveillance methods, enhancing real-time oversight of prison premises.
The committee's review was initiated after viral videos showed inmates, including notorious criminals and a terror suspect, allegedly receiving preferential treatment inside Parappana Agrahara. These videos triggered widespread concerns over security, discipline, and overall governance within Karnataka's prison system.
The report ultimately portrays Parappana Agrahara Central Prison as critically under-resourced, structurally vulnerable, and poorly monitored. It warns that similar issues plague other central prisons across Karnataka, demanding immediate and comprehensive reform.
