Some of their observations include:

* The circuit televisions through which the prison officials can keep a watch on the working of the different areas of prison are not working.

* Tobacco, which prisoners are not entitled to, are freely bought by them across the counter in the canteen.

*Hygiene conditions are lacking in both the female and male wards and the kitchen.

Shocked at the situation, the bench has passed detailed directions directing the state to ``have more prisons'', repair the televisions forthwith and immediately stop the sale of tobacco. While the supervision of the prison conditions took place a month back, the bench passed its order only yesterday and has directed the state to file an affidavit within fourmonths.

The judges took the unusual step of visiting the prison suo moto when they were disturbed by a number of petitions filed by the prisoners lodged in various prisons in the state complaining about food, lack of proper medical attention and the general unsatisfactory conditions in the prison.

In the Arthur Road jail, the judges were struck by the ``overcrowding''. In their judgement, they have noted that ``both male and female wards appeared to be unclean and depressing. The toilets are in utter disrepair and hygiene seems neglected''. The bench has expressed concern about the health and well being of the children of the female prisoners and felt that the ``atmosphere of the prison should be conducive to the proper development of these children''.

``The wards should be made to look more cheerful and habitable'', the judgement says and felt that television that is allowed in the juvenile ward should be made available to all prisoners. Shown the conditions of the kitchen, the bench noted that ``theconditions needed to be improved and food should be cooked in more hygienic conditions''. The judges were told that the food is cooked by the prisoners themselves and that the same food is given to the children as those of the adults. The bench has directed that the children's food ``should not only be nutritious but should also focus on what a normal child would fancy''.

Expressing satisfaction about the nursing home conditions, the bench felt that much can be done to make it better. There are resident doctors to attend to the ailing prisoners and the state has only recently appointed a lady doctor to take care of the female prisoners. Medicines are made available to the prisoners, the bench was told.

The judges noted the broken condition of the grievance box for the prisoners and directed that they be repaired. The bench expressed surprise that the prisoners were buying tobacco at the counters in the canteen, which they are not entitled to under the rules.

In their directions, the bench has apart fromthe above directions asked the state goverment to improve the conditions of the kitchen and the wards immediately and clean up the sanitary conditions of the prison. ``Necessary basic amenities should be provided to the children to enable them to grow as normal children and develop their personalities,'' the bench has stated.

The bench has directed that sale of tobacco be stopped immediately and has opined that ``the state needs to do this and much more. Regular surprise visits by higher prison officers will work as a check'', it has added.

The judges were shown around the prison by the DIG Prisons, Bhamre when they noted that there was no attempt at suppressing anything from them. The judges have recorded that the officers were fair and obviously worked within their own limitations. ``It is the state that has respond to our directions forthwith'', the order directs. The matter is to be next heard on February 21, 2000.