COVID-19: SC directs PIL on release of prisoners from Tihar jail to state govt

A Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India SA Bobde said that they have left the discretion to the state government to decide on the category of prisoners that are to be released. The apex court was hearing PIL on the issue of releasing less number of prisoners from Tihar jail amid coronavirus outbreak.

New Delhi:The Supreme court directed that the PIL, addressing the issue of releasing less number of prisoners from Tihar jail amid corona crisis, to be represented before the state government.

The bench led by the Chief Justice of India SA Bobde said that they have left the discretion to the state government and high powered committee to decide which category of prisoners should be released.

The petitioner, Vishvendra Tomar, contended that the Tihar Jail has space for 10,000 prisoners but 17,000 prisoners are in jail presently.

The High powered committee, which was formed after the apex court's earlier direction on suo moto case of congestion in jails, ordered releasing only 1,500 inmates.

Tomar said that more numbers should have been released.

The court had taken the matter of congestion in jails earlier and had ordered the formation of a high powered committee to consider the release of prisoners from jails on bail to avoid the outbreak of COVID-19 inside.

It had suggested that prisoners involved in petty crimes or having the imprisonment period of up to 7 years can be considered. It had left the decision of releasing prisoners to the governments.