Tihar Jail's Solution To Prevent Coronavirus: Release 3000 Inmates To Reduce Congestion

Social distancing and cleanliness - have been the two talked about precautionary measures to stop the spread of novel coronavirus. Many of the countries including India, are in lockdown, and restrictions are in place to tackle COVID-19 crises.

Representational Image/AP

The rising cases is not helping matters and governments across the world are being forced to take significant steps. Some really absurd yet necessary, like releasing prisoners early or on parole to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

Many countries have done it, now India has joined that club. Tihar Prison authorities said they are planning to release around 3,000 prisoners to ease congestion in jails over the coronavirus threat.

PTI

"We will try to release around 1,500 convicts on parole or furlough, and around the same number (1,500) of undertrial prisoners (on interim-bail) in the coming three to four days to ease congestion in jails in the wake of coronavirus threat," Sandeep Goel, DG (Prisons) was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

However, prisoners with criminal history will not be released.

According to the order, prisoners convicted or charged with offenses having jail term of up to seven years can be given parole.

Earlier on Monday, the AAP government told the Delhi High Court it has decided to decongest its prisons to check the spread of coronavirus by providing convicts with the options of special parole and furlough.

It said that for convicts, special parole and furlough provisions had been made, while for undertrials ¨C who form a majority of inmates ¨C it was drawing up a plan for 45-day bail in non-heinous cases for which an undertrial has spent three months in jail.

India has so far recorded around 500 confirmed cases of coronavirus infections in India, with 30 of them in Delhi. At least nine people have died so far due to the virus.