Expressing grave concern over the alarming Covid situation in the country, the supreme court saturday instructed the high-powered committees established in various states to consider releasing prisoners in order to decongest the prisons. The danger of corona virus looms large over the prisons in odisha too.
NEW DELHI: In order to protect prisoners' right to life, the supreme court has directed states to examine releasing inmates, convicted or facing trial in non-serious charges, from jails either on regular bail or on parole to prevent overcrowding and spread of corona virus infection in prisons during the current surge in virulent cases.
The sc not only ordered release of prisoners on parole or bail, but also took into consideration the difficulty they would face in reaching their homes during lockdown. It asked the state governments to provide prisoners, released on the basis of sc orders, with transport facility till their homes.
A bench of Chief Justice N v ramana and Justices L N Rao and surya Kant said, "Appropriate steps shall be taken for transportation of the released inmates of the prisons, if necessary, in view of the curfews and lockdowns in some states."
