Decongestion panel extends special parole, interim bail of inmates

Chandigarh, October 2

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The high-powered committee constituted for decongestion of jails has decided to extend the period of special parole and special interim bail of all prisoners, who have been released due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The extension granted by the high-powered committee is till November 10, 2020.

A special meeting of the committee was held under the chairmanship of Justice Jaswant Singh, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court, and Executive Chairman, State Legal Services Authority, UT.

Ombir Singh, IG Prisons, Chandigarh, and Ashok Kumar Mann, Chief Judicial Magistrate-cum-Secretary, District Legal Services Authority, UT, briefed the committee regarding the action taken in compliance of directions/recommendations issued/made vide previous meetings of the panel.

Considering the present Covid situation, the jail authorities had requested that the period of return be extended for reasonable time. In the meantime, the jail authorities would come up with a detailed plan for facilitating smooth readmission of prisoners into jail premises and avoid spreading Covid-19 therein.

Justice Jaswant Singh agreed to their request and directed that detailed re-admission plan of convicted and undertrial prisoners be submitted in the office of State Legal Services Authority, UT, within 10 days and to be placed before the high-powered committee.

The committee further specified that in order to prevent the outbreak of Covid-19, rapid antigen test of all arrested persons for the virus be conducted before admission into jail premises.

“The UT health authorities are directed to do the necessary test (s) and only those with negative report be sent to jail premises,” the committee added. “In case any arrestee is found Covid positive, he/she shall be admitted for treatment in the prisoners’ ward of the government hospital (dedicated Covid Hospital). On full recovery, he/she should be admitted to jail,” the panel stated. — TNS