To decongest jails, 4,933 prisoners released so far in Haryana

Bhartesh Singh Thakur

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 18

To decongest jails and maintain social distancing in view of Covid pandemic, Haryana has released 4,933 prisoners so far. It has brought down jail occupancy rate from 106.4% to 87.6%.

The authorised capacity of 19 jails in Haryana is 19,306. However, on March 24, there were 20,546 inmates and the occupancy rate was 106.4%.

Then, a high-powered committee, formed on the orders of the Supreme Court, comprising Member Secretary Haryana Legal Services Authority (HALSA) Parmod Goyal, Home Secretary Vijai Vardhan and DGP Prisons K Selvraj, in consultation with Justice Rajiv Sharma, who is Executive Chairman of HALSA, on March 24, decided the class of prisoners who could be released.

As on April 16, there are 16,915 prisoners in Haryana jails, including with fresh arrests, with occupancy rate of 87.6%.

As per the rules framed by the high-powered committee, the convicts above 65 are to be granted six-week special parole while those who are already on parole or furlough, their Special Parole is be extended for four weeks. Those who have already availed one parole peacefully and surrendered in time are to be granted fresh one time six-week Special Parole.

Also, those sentenced for seven-year imprisonment or lesser are to be considered for parole for six weeks extendable to eight weeks.

The high-powered committee has also advised the head of jails department and Superintendent of Jail to exercise their power to grant additional remission of two-month and 1-month respectively in eligible cases.

It benefited 2,666 convicts. Among them, 36 are granted remission in sentence, 2,306 are granted special parole or regular parole, while parole has been extended for 324 convicts.

For undertrials, the high-powered committee has allowed a 45-day interim bail extendable to 60 days, if he or she is facing one or two cases, in which maximum punishment is seven years or lesser.

It benefited 2,267 undertrials as 1,175 got interim bail and 1,092 got regular bail.

However, those convicted and undertrials of NDPS case with intermediate or heavy quantity, or rape or Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSOA) or snatching or acid attack are not considered for any relief. Foreign nationals are also not considered for any relief.

“We have decided on decongestion of jails as there are directions from the Supreme Court. A high-powered committee has framed the rules for release of jail inmates,” said Jails Minister Ranjit Singh.

Comparison 

Date                                    Prisoners              Occupancy Rate

March 24                             20,546                     106.4%

April 16                                16,915                     87.6%