Open jails in Karnal, F’bad soon

Pradeep Sharma

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 14

Introducing the concept of open jails, the state government plans to allow convicts with good conduct to live with their families within the jail premises and move out during the day to pursue avocation of their choice.

A pilot project will be rolled out early next year at the Karnal and Faridabad jails, where 30 special quarters each on the jail premises, separate from other jail inmates’ areas, are being readied for this purpose.

“Once the project is launched, Haryana will join a select band of states which allow jail inmates to shift to open jails with their families and earn a decent living,” said Jails Minister Krishan Lal Panwar on Tuesday.

Convicts in open jails would not be locked up, but remain under supervision. “They will be allowed to get employment outside, but will have to return to the jail premises by the evening,” the minister asserted.

Officials said the new initiative was part of rehabilitation of jail inmates with the ultimate aim of integrating them into the mainstream of society after release on completion of sentence.

It would go a long way in making the inmates economically self-independent, the officials said. The initiative was being executed as part of the jail reforms after formulation of the Haryana Prisoners Open Air Camp Rules, 2018.

While certain basic amenities such as accommodation, electricity and water supply would be provided by the state government, the prisoners would have to arrange food and clothing and meet other requirements of daily routine for their families.

New jails were being constructed in Panipat, Rewari and Nuh, which would have a capacity of 1,000 prisoners each.

Three additional barracks for men were being constructed at the district jails in Jind and Sirsa. Construction of five barracks for men and one for women was under progress at the district jail in Bhiwani.