The Cental government will bring a Model Prisons Act by amending the British-era legslation in the coming 6 months . Adetailed discussions are underway with state governments, Home Minister Amit Shah said here on Sunday on the matter.

The Union minster also urged all the state governments to immediately accept the Model Prison Manual introduced by the Central government in 2016 with “a need to reassess our views regarding prisons” and carry forward prison reforms. Thus far, only 11 states and Union Territories have adopted the Manual, he said speaking a meeting at the inauguration of the 6th All India Prison Duty Meet.

“After the prison manual, we are now going ahead to bring the Model Prisons Act, which will bring about necessary changes in the law in force since the British era. Right now, we are holding extensive discussions with states and I am sure that it will be brought within the next six months,” Shah said. He also said the Model Prisons Act will be brought to make jails in the country state-of-the-art. Shah stressed the need to address the issue of overcrowding in prisons, saying the jail administration cannot be improved without resolving these issues.

Shah also requested states to provide video conferencing facilities with the court in every district jail. He identified the need to make arrangements “to keep prisoners who spread the propaganda of radicalisation and narcotics separate”. The new jail manual also deals with information on controlling gangs inside the jail.