LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Prisons Minister Dara Singh Chauhan on Monday reviewed the passing-out parade of newly trained prison officers and jail warders at the Dr Sampurnanand Prison Training Institute in Lucknow, urging them to uphold discipline, integrity and a humane approach while discharging their duties.Addressing the convocation ceremony of the 123rd batch of the Prison Officer Cadre and the 179th batch of the Jail Warder Cadre, Chauhan said the Yogi Adityanath-led government has undertaken significant reforms to modernise the state’s prison system and transform jails into secure, correction-oriented institutions focused on rehabilitation.“The objective is not only to ensure security inside prisons but also to reform inmates and help them reintegrate into society as responsible citizens,” the minister said. He added that the government is placing emphasis on vocational education, skill development and inculcating moral values among prisoners to facilitate their rehabilitation after release.Before addressing the gathering, Chauhan inspected the ceremonial parade from an official vehicle and received the salute from the contingents.A total of 91 trainees participated in the passing-out parade, including 12 prison officers—comprising six Jail Superintendents and three Assistant Superintendents from Chhattisgarh, along with three Deputy Jailors from Uttar Pradesh—and 79 Jail Warders from Uttar Pradesh.Congratulating the trainees, the minister said well-trained, disciplined and sensitive prison personnel form the backbone of an efficient and secure correctional system. He urged them to remain committed to protecting human rights, adopting modern correctional practices and contributing to the rehabilitation of inmates while performing their responsibilities with honesty and dedication.The minister also administered the oath of office and secrecy to the newly trained officers and warders and felicitated 31 trainees for their outstanding performance during the training programme.Among the prison officers who completed the course were Prasoon Gupta, Sudhir Thakur, Taman, Nirmal Singh, Sameeksha Sahu and Lokeshwari, all Jail Superintendents from Chhattisgarh, Assistant Superintendents Sandeep Kumar, Mahendra Kumar and Anupriya Lakra, and Uttar Pradesh Deputy Jailors Anupam Mishra, Disha and Tejaswi Tiwari.The Best Trainee Award in the officer category was presented to Jail Superintendent Taman of Gariaband District Jail, Chhattisgarh, while Atul Yadav of Baghpat District Jail, Uttar Pradesh, received the award for the jail warder category.Director General (Prisons) PC Meena highlighted the significance of the training institute, describing it as the first prison training institute not only in India but also in Asia. He said the institute has trained prison officials from several Indian states as well as foreign countries.According to Meena, the institute had, by March 2026, trained 1,681 prison officers and 13,266 jail warders. He urged the newly inducted personnel to carry out their responsibilities with integrity, professionalism and a spirit of public service.The ceremony was attended by senior prison officials, including Deputy Inspector General (Prisons) SC Shakya, Pradeep Gupta, Shailendra Kumar Maitreya, PN Pandey, Assistant Inspector General (Prisons), Chhattisgarh Amit Shandilya, Senior Jail Superintendent Rang Bahadur Patel, Finance Controller Abid Ali Ansari, and family members of the trainees.
