Decongest prisons across country ‘at the earliest’: SC
Concerned over rapid proliferation of Covid-19 amongst the inmates of congested prisons, the Supreme Court on Saturday ordered decongestion of prisons across the country by releasing “at the earliest” all those prisoners who were granted bail or parole in March last year and ordered authorities not to arrest mechanically in cases where the maximum sentence is up to seven years.
Noticing that India has more than four lakh prison inmates overburdening the jails with some having inmates beyond their optimal capacities, Chief Justice N.V. Ramana heading a bench also comprising Justoce L.Nageswara Rao and Justice Surya Kant directed that the high powered committees constituted by the states and union territories shall consider the release of prisoners by applying the guidelines laid down by the National Legal Service Authority (NALSA) last year.
The court further ordered that those States which have not constituted high powered committees last year are directed to do so immediately.
The court ordered that those inmates who were granted parole, pursuant to top court’s earlier orders, should be again granted a parole for a period of 90 days in order to tide over the pandemic.
The court found merit in the suggestion by senior counsel Colin Gonsalves that the high powered committee, in addition to considering fresh release, should forthwith release all the inmates who had been released earlier pursunt to top court’s March 23, 2020, order by imposing appropriate conditions.
“Such an exercise is mandated in order to save valuable time”, the court said. The court further directed the authorities to strictly adhere to the guidelines issued by the top court by its earlier judgment in arresting accused in conflict with law.
◗ THE COURT ordered that those inmates who were granted parole, pursuant to top court’s earlier orders, should be again granted a parole for 90 days in order to tide over the pandemic