Punjab to release 6K inmates to decongest jails

CHANDIGARH: The Punjab government is going to release 6,000 prisoners on parole or bail to decongest jails in the state, jails minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said on Thursday.

Randhawa said the Supreme Court had constituted a highpowered committee under the chairperson, Punjab Legal Services Authority, with principal secretary (jails) and additional director general of police (ADGP prisons) as members. “The committee has circulated detailed criteria and procedure. Convicted prisoners will be released on parole and undertrial prisoners on interim bail for 6 weeks, he said.

The minister said there were around 24,000 prisoners lodged in 24 jails across the state against an authorised capacity of 23,488. As per the committee report, the primary aim was to protect the health of the prisoners and restrict transmission of Covid-19 by decongestion of prisons. The committee recommended release of convicts on parole for a period of six weeks.

Prisoners sentenced up to 7 years with maximum 2 undertrial cases (both on bail), and further should have availed last parole peacefully, are to be considered for release on parole, he said.

The minister further pointed out that the prisoners already out on parole would be given 6 week extension in parole in order to ensure quarantining of prisons. As a one-time measure, the jail superintendents have been empowered to process the cases of parole so as to expedite the process of release.

An undertrial would be considered for a 6 week interim bail, if he/she is facing one or two cases, in which maximum punishment is seven years or less. Special cases under certain heads of crime such as Sections 498-A, 420, 406, 324, 325 and 379 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), Excise Act and those under Section

107 and 151 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CRPC) shall also be considered for the bail.

However, those convicted or charged under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act,section 376 and 379-B of the Indian Penal Code , acid attack, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), Explosives Act and foreign nationals will not be considered for release.

Also, conditions have been put on for those covered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act cases.the committee has relaxed the conditions further for release of prisoners suffering from chronic diseases like diabetes, HIV, pregnant women and those above 65 years of age.

CONVICTS WILL BE RELEASED ON PAROLE FOR 6 WEEKS AND UNDERTRIALS ON INTERIM BAIL FOR THE SAME PERIOD