The Apex Court issued directions to the prison authorities and asked them to be considerate about the concerns of inmates who might not be willing to be released during COVID, either due to their social background or because of the fear of being victims of deadly COVID.
The bench made the above observation while issuing directions for the release of certain category of inmates on interim bail or parole in order to avoid congestion of inmates.
The bench issued slew of directions while hearing an application filed to issue directions to Committees formed last year to examine the situation of COVID within the jail premises.
The bench stated that Indian prisons are overcrowded, which is not a favourable method especially during the pandemic. The bench asked the prison authorities to ensure that proper medical facilities are provided to the inmates so as to prevent the spread of virus in prison.
The bench directed the authorities to control the spread of virus in the prisons by conducting regular tests of not only the prisoners but the jail staff as well.
The bench also stated that transmission of virus can be controlled by maintaining standard levels of hygiene and sanitation within the jail premises.
The directions were inclusive of adopting safe transportation measures for the released prisoners, in view of the lockdown and curfew in various states of India.
The bench noted that some of the Indian prisons have inmates more than their original capacity and thus it is important to de-congest such prisons as even inmates and respective authorities have right to good health and life.
The bench observed that the deadly virus needs to be defeated within the prison walls by limiting the arrests and taking good care of COVID patients.
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