SC to consider releasing prisoners to contain corona outbreak

Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the Supreme Court has asked all the states to constitute a high powered committee which will determine the class of prisoners who can be released on parole or interim bail for an appropriate period.

New Delhi:The Supreme Court bench comprising of the Chief Justice of India SA Bobde, Justice L Nageswara Rao and Justice Surya Kant has directed all the states to constitute a high powered committee which will determine the class of prisoners who can be released on parole or interim bail for an appropriate period.

The apex court was hearing a Public Issue Litigation where it acknowledged the issue of overcrowding in jails and threat of outbreak of corona in jails. States filed reports in the court and expressed willingness to deal with the overcrowding problem.

The Solicitor General Tushar Mehta suggested that what has been done in Tihar can be replicated by other jails. He informed the court that medical officers are instructed to immediately report any sick undertrial prisoners inside the jail authorities. The inmates are permitted to talk to their family members through telephone. Adequate number of jail hospitals are available inside the jails and in the evening yoga and other activities are being done.

CJI Bobde suggested that all activities should not be stopped and some can be done through video conferencing. He said that stopping all activities would create panic. It was also informed to the court that many prisoners are foreigners so there is a risk of people coming from abroad. Most of the foreign prisoners are either drug peddlers or arrested in custom related cases.

SG informed that court that 3000-4000 masks are being manufactured and same are being disposed off. Parole and furlough will not apply to under trial prisoners and the states will access their own situation.

CJI suggested that prisoners considered for release can be those who are serving punishment of maximum 7 years or less.