By The Pulseline News Desk
The Government has issued an Extraordinary Gazette notification amending the Standing Orders under the Prisons Ordinance to establish procedures for determining whether Buddhist monks sentenced to imprisonment should be permitted to retain their robes.
The amendments set out a formal process for consulting the Department of Buddhist Affairs and the relevant Nikaya or Chapter when a Buddhist monk is admitted to prison, including deadlines for obtaining a decision on the removal of robes.
The Gazette was issued by Acting Commissioner General of Prisons Prasad Hemantha Kumara with the approval of the Minister of Justice.
Under the revised Standing Orders, the Commissioner of Prisons must consult the Department of Buddhist Affairs regarding the removal of a monk’s robes upon imprisonment.
The Department must then notify the relevant Nikaya or Chapter and communicate its decision to the Commissioner of Prisons within 10 days.
If no response is received within that period, the Commissioner of Prisons may take the necessary action in accordance with the applicable provisions of the Standing Orders.
The amendments also address the wearing of robes when an imprisoned Buddhist monk is taken outside prison in the capacity of a prisoner.
While the revised rules permit monks to wear their robes in such circumstances, the Commissioner General of Prisons must follow the applicable provisions if the relevant Nikaya has not granted approval for the monk to retain that status of dress.
The Standing Orders further require the Commissioner to request the Department of Buddhist Affairs to obtain the necessary approval from the relevant Nikaya or Chapter within seven working days of the monk’s imprisonment.
The notification also provides for the procedures to be applied, with necessary modifications, when members of other religious clergy are imprisoned or released.
The amendments establish an administrative framework for prison authorities to follow when dealing with the religious status and attire of imprisoned clergy, while providing for consultation with the relevant religious authorities.
The notification comes amid public debate over the treatment of Buddhist monks facing criminal proceedings and the circumstances in which they should be permitted to wear robes while in custody.
The practical implications of the amendments will depend on how prison authorities and the relevant religious institutions apply the procedures in individual cases.
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