Virus: Delay in releasing prisoners to make futile efforts to decongest jails, says HC Judge

A high-powered committee, heed by a Delhi High Court judge, has cautioned authorities that any delay in releasing eligible convicts on 'emergency parole' to decongest jails to prevent spre of coronavirus will make entire effort futile.

global pandemic, also called COVID-19, has infected 5,194 people in India and claimed 149 lives. Director General (Prisons) and Delhi government's Principal Secretary (Home) assured chairperson of committee on Tuesday that y would expedite process of granting 'emergency parole' to eligible convicts and process would be completed within three days.

committee, heed by Justice Hima Kohli, was constituted in March on orders of Supreme Court. It has deliberated and resolved on various means of achieving social distancing including to quarantine fresh inmates, taking stock of effect of criterion earlier opted, determining fresh category of prisoners who can be released on interim bail to check spre of virus in prisons.

According to DG (Prisons), after opting criteria me earlier for release prisoners, jail population has come down from 17,552 as on March 25 to 16,179 as on April 7. On complete implementation of criteria, it would furr come down to about 15,500.

committee was furr informed that in view of its March 28 directions, 686 orders were issued for release of convicts on parole and 650 have been released and 261 cases are under process. authorities said though orders have been issued with respect to 686 convicts for ir release on 'emergency parole', some of m have t been released as y are unwilling and some are residents of Punjab, Bihar and Uttar Presh.

In March 28 meeting held by committee constituted by Delhi government, it was resolved that process of granting eight weeks parole to around 1,500 prisoners, under a newly incorporated provision in prison rules, would be completed expeditiously.

“However, as per report submitted (on April 7), only 650 convicts have been released so far. Chairperson has cautioned DG (Prisons) and Principal Secretary (Home) that any delay in release of eligible convicts on 'emergency parole' so as to complete exercise of de-congestion of jail, will make entire effort futile,” as per minutes of meeting.

decision by committee was taken in a meeting held via video conferencing with officials of DG (Prisons), Delhi State Legal Services Authority and Home Department of Delhi government.

meeting was held pursuant to March 23 direction of apex court to every state to set up a high powered committee to take measures to reduce population of inmates in over-crowded jails in country by determining category of prisoners to be released on parole and interim bail.

minutes also recorded that chairperson has expressed “her deep disappointment and displeasure for n-implementation” of resolutions opted in earlier meeting regarding remission of sentence to be granted to convicts. panel was informed that ne of convicts were granted remission of sentence.

authorities told panel that necessary orders have been passed by Delhi government in this regard and y will expedite process to achieve object for which committee has been constituted. committee also expresses satisfaction over steps and precautions taken by jail authorities to prevent outbreak of COVID-19 in jail premises.

Some of steps taken by authorities include frequent cleaning and sanitisation of bathing area and kitchen area, maintaining social distancing and quarantine of new prisoners. panel ted that on basis of criteria opted earlier, as on date only about 1500 inmates/ convicts or undertrial prisoners have been released on parole or interim bail.

panel furr relaxed criteria for considering releasing prisoners on interim bail, including preferably on basis of personal bond. committee directed DSLSA official to gar information on steps taken by Juvenile Justice Boards and Child Welfare Committees towards implementation of directions passed by apex court.

panel was informed that after opting criteria laid down on April 7 meeting for releasing undertrials on interim bail, number will furr come down to 14,500 in a week's time. DG (Prisons) h earlier said that in 16 jails in Delhi which have a total capacity of 10,026 prisoners, re are 17,440 inmates of which 14,355 are undertrial prisoners.

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