The Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) Khotang monitored the Khotang District Jail on November 17, 2025.
INSEC monitored the jail office regarding the required positions for health workers, the physical condition of the jail, and other related issues. A team consisting of INSEC Khotang representative and former representative Tara Nath Phuyal gathered information from Jail Chief Pradeep Shrestha about the sanctioned posts for health workers, physical infrastructure, and challenges faced while presenting detainees and inmates at the court due to the lack of a vehicle.
During the monitoring, it was found that the district jail has been without a health worker for the past 11 months, after the only doctor on duty was transferred in December 2024.
Due to the absence of the required health workers, inmates and detainees have been deprived even of basic and primary treatment. Jail Chief Pradeep Shrestha told INSEC staff that the lack of health personnel has left inmates deprived of basic and emergency health rights.
During the monitoring, the jail administration stated that after the Gen-Z movement, the jail lacked an alternative electricity backup, causing the jail to remain dark during power outages, which has created security risks.
Jail Chief Shrestha informed the INSEC monitoring team that an alternative lighting system became extremely necessary during the Gen-Z movement. During the movement, the jail remained in darkness due to the lack of electricity. At the same time, many inmates were escaping from jails across the country. When Khotang District Jail was left in darkness, security risks increased, he said. However, he informed the monitoring team that no incident occurred as the inmates remained disciplined.
Jail Chief Shrestha also stated that due to the absence of health workers since Kapindra Kathayat, who was working as the jail health worker, was transferred in December 2024, inmates have been deprived of basic health rights. Even when inmates and detainees faced common illnesses like cold and cough, they were deprived of basic and emergency health services, he said.
Because the jail does not have its own vehicle, inmates have to be taken to the district hospital for basic or emergency health checkups using rented vehicles, the jail chief told the INSEC monitoring team.
Jail Chief Shrestha also informed the monitoring team that the jail building, built using mud, has become unsafe due to its deteriorating condition. Since the ground continues to sink and the building keeps cracking, it seems that the jail may need to be relocated.
During the INSEC monitoring, it was found that the lower part of the jail premises had sunk, causing the wall to collapse. The walls surrounding the inmates’ living quarters were also found to be cracked in several places.
At present, the jail houses a total of 140 inmates including 3 women and 137 men.