Prison officials can be jailed if inmates escape

THE escape of rape-murder convict Govindachamy from the high-security Kannur Central Prison has triggered sharp criticism over the failure in fixing accountability among jail officials.

- P RAMDAS @ Kochi

Though Govindachamy was tracked down and arrested within hours, legal experts question why no case has been registered against those responsible for the security lapses.

While the Kannur Town police filed an FIR against Govindachamy under Section 262 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for escaping from lawful custody -- a charge that carries a maximum sentence of two years or fine or both -- they have not invoked provisions that hold public servants accountable in such cases.