Karnataka restricts supply of food, clothing, bedding from private sources to prisoners
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued fresh regulations restricting the supply of food, clothing and bedding to civil prisoners and unconvicted criminal (under trial) prisoners from private sources, citing prison security, safety, staff shortage, overcrowding and health concerns.
According to a circular issued by the Prisons and Correctional Services Department on January 23, in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 30 of the Karnataka Prisons Act, 1963, cooked food will no longer be allowed to be brought into or supplied inside any prison from private sources to any civil and undertrial prisoners, either at the time of admission or during interviews.
Taking to social media 'X', DGP Prisons Alok Kumar said for the first time regulations framed regarding providing food, bedding and clothes to undertrial and civil prisoners.
"We are not allowing any cooked food from outside. Bangalore prison food is certified by FSSAI and is of good quality. Need to treat all UT prisoners equally," he added.
The regulations applicable to all prisons across the State shall come into effect immediately, the circular said.
While noting that adequate food, clothing and bedding are already being provided by the Prisons and Correctional Services Department as per existing laws and manuals, the circular said it has become necessary to regulate and restrict private supplies in the interest of security and administrative feasibility.
As per the new norms, only limited uncooked and packaged food items will be permitted from private sources, subject to thorough examination by prison authorities.
These include fresh fruits such as bananas, apples, mangoes and guava not exceeding two kilograms per person per week, dry fruits like almonds, cashews, walnuts and dried grapes up to half a kilogram, and bakery or confectionery items such as biscuits, cookies, namkeens and chips limited to half a kilogram.
No other food items will be allowed and the quantity of clothing that can be brought from private sources has also been restricted.
"Civil and undertrial prisoners will be allowed only two pairs of outer clothing and two pairs of inner garments, apart from the clothes worn at the time of admission. Any clothing found in excess of the prescribed quantity will be seized and confiscated," the circular said.
The circular clarified that since bedding is already provided by the Prison Department, no bedding from private sources will ordinarily be permitted. However, one additional blanket may be allowed on request, subject to security checks and availability of space. No other bedding items will be permitted.
All permitted items will be allowed subject to physical examination and security checks, and any prohibited or suspicious articles detected will be dealt with in accordance with the law.
The circular said that these regulations shall be strictly enforced by all prison authorities.
"These regulations shall have effect notwithstanding anything inconsistent contained in any earlier circulars, instructions or orders relating to the receipt of food, clothing or bedding from private sources," it added.
For the first time regulations framed regarding providing food,bedding & clothes to the Under Trial & Civil prisoners. We are not allowing any cooked food from outside. Bangalore prison food is certified by FSSAI and is of good quality.
— alok kumar (@alokkumar6994) January 24, 2026
Need to treat all UT prisoners equally pic.twitter.com/Cl7fvQrimr
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Gill, Mandhana win top BCCI awards
New Delhi (PTI): Prolific batters Shubman Gill and Smriti Mandhana were named the Best International Cricketers (Men's and Women's) at the BCCI Naman Awards 2026 here on Sunday, recognising their outstanding performances in the 2024–2025 season.
Gill won the prestigious Polly Umrigar Award, while Mandhana received the award for the fifth time.
For Gill, it was his second Cricketer of the Year award after first winning it in 2023.
Former stars Roger Binny, Rahul Dravid and Mithali Raj were honoured with the Col. C. K. Nayudu Lifetime Achievement Award, the BCCI's highest honour, recognising their outstanding service to Indian cricket.
India's five trophy-winning sides (2025 ICC Champions Trophy, 2025 Women's ODI World Cup, 2025 U-19 Women's World Cup, 2026 Men's U-19 World Cup, and 2026 T20 World Cup) were honoured as well on the occasion.
Gill enjoyed a stellar 2025 and established himself as one of the team's most dependable batters in the longer formats.
On the tour of England, skipper Gill led from the front in the five-Test series, finishing as the top run-getter with 754 runs in 10 innings at an average of 75.40, including four centuries and a top score of 269.
Gill also played a pivotal role in India's Champions Trophy triumph last year, having entered the tournament as the No.1-ranked ODI batter in the world. He made an unbeaten 101 against Bangladesh in India's opening match, and finished the tournament with 188 runs.
Mandhana finished 2025 with 1,703 international runs, including 1,362 in ODIs, the most by any woman in a calendar year. In doing so, Mandhana became the first batter in women's ODI history to score 1,000 runs in a single calendar year.
Mandhana also made handsome contributions to India's maiden Women's World Cup title triumph, aggregating 434 runs in nine matches to end as the tournament as India's leading run-scorer and the second-highest overall.
Before the World Cup, the left-hander Mandhana smashed a 50-ball century against Australia in New Delhi to register the fastest ODI hundred by an Indian batter, surpassing Virat Kohli's 52-ball effort.
Shafali Varma (Best Woman Cricketer Senior Domestic One-Day), Ira Jadhav (Best Woman Cricketer (Domestic), Harsh Dubey (Best All Rounder in the Ranji Trophy), and Ayush Mhatre (Best All Rounder in Domestic Limited Overs Competitions) too won awards for their strong performances across the 2024-25 domestic season.
