COVID-19: Nearly 12,000 prisoners in Madhya Pradesh to be released to reduce congestion

While jail authorities decide parole for convicts, the decision on bail will be taken by various district courts.

DG (Jail) Sanjay Chaudhary told The Indian Express that the convicts will be granted parole up to 60 days using a provision to grant emergency parole. The convicts who were already eligible for parole will benefit from it. Male convicts over 65 years of age, female over 50 years and female with children aged less than six years will get preference.

Follow coronavirus LIVE updates 

More than 7,000 convicts will benefit from the parole, including 5,000 who would have been released on parole throughout the year. Also, convicts who are released on the occasion of Independence Day and those whose pleas are pending with collectors will also benefit. Convicts become eligible for parole on completion of two year in jail. “Once we get confirmation from the state government the first batch of convicts will be straightaway released,’’ he said.

The under trials will get bail of up to 45 days. Different district courts will decide the bail please on merit by Thursday or Friday. National Legal Services Authority of India (NALSA) guidelines covering 11 categories of under trials will be used to release them.

Meanwhile, the COVID 19 outbreak has a spin off. “There is almost 90 per cent reduction in crimes. So the arrival of new prisoners has come down drastically since last week,’’ said ADG (Jail) Gajiram Meena.