Dr Soumya Mishra highlights Telangana’s correctional reforms at national justice meet
Hyderabad: Telangana Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services Dr Soumya Mishra on Saturday highlighted the state’s progressive correctional reforms and legal aid initiatives at the National Conference on “Building Justice Capacity for Tomorrow: Telangana in Dialogue”.
Legal experts and officials push collaborative justice reforms
The India Justice Report (IJR), NALSAR University of Law, and the Access to Justice for Prisoners (AJP) initiative jointly hosted the conference. Justice Sam Koshy, Executive Chairperson of the Telangana State Legal Services Authority (TSLSA), joined the event alongside Ms Nayanika Singhal of IJR, Senior Civil Judge Mudigonda Raju from SLSA Hyderabad, and Prof Vijay Raghavan of TISS.
Dr Mishra was accompanied by Inspector General N. Murali Babu and Deputy Inspector General M. Sampath. The prison leadership stressed Telangana’s focus on inmate rehabilitation, reintegration, and a humane approach to correctional administration.
Telangana prioritises technology in prison governance
Dr Mishra said the state connected all prisons to courts using video conferencing systems. This upgrade allows for secure and transparent inmate production. She added that Telangana is also integrating e-Courts and e-Prisons modules under the Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS). These measures, she explained, improve coordination between prisons and the judiciary.
Legal aid access extended across prison population
Telangana has taken concrete steps to ensure legal aid reaches every inmate. According to Dr Mishra, the department provided free legal aid to 1,045 prisoners in 2024. From January to September 2025, another 972 inmates received assistance. TSLSA coordinated closely with the prisons department to implement this outreach.
Jail Adalats speed up justice and reduce pendency
Jail Adalats are delivering quicker justice for prisoners. In 2023, 1,128 cases were resolved, freeing 376 prisoners. In 2024, the number rose to 1,932 cases with 483 releases. By September 2025, authorities had resolved 1,811 cases and released 460 inmates. These numbers show a sustained focus on efficiency and case clearance.
Smart Prisons Initiative improves operations and transparency
Under the Smart Prisons Initiative, Telangana has rolled out several technologies. These include biometric access controls, digital inmate records, and virtual legal aid systems. Dr Mishra noted that these tools enhance operational efficiency and accountability across the prison system.
She credited the collaborative work of the Judiciary, Police, Legal Services Authorities, and prison officials for Telangana’s high ranking in the India Justice Report. Their coordinated reforms, she said, have turned Telangana into a national benchmark for correctional governance.
Telangana aims for an inclusive, tech-driven justice system
Dr Mishra reaffirmed that the Telangana Prisons Department remains committed to building a modern, inclusive, and evidence-based correctional system. She emphasised the alignment of Smart Prisons, legal aid, and education as key pillars of a more accessible justice ecosystem.