Social distancing to pave way for the release of 11,000 prisoners

Pune: Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh has ordered the release of about 11,000 convicts and undertrials, imprisoned with punishment up to seven years or less (with or without fine) on emergency parole or furlough, to reduce overcrowding.

In a meeting with the top police brass in Mumbai on Thursday night,  Mr Deshmukh ordered the logistics and modalities to be completed within a week. 

He said, ''We are also looking at undertrials being given bail or even a full release to those who have completed longer terms in prison than the prescribed punishment.''The nine Central prisons (Mumbai, Thane, Kharghar, Nashik, Pune, Aurangabad, Kalamba, Amravati and Nagpur) were most crowded and the Home Ministry has already asked for the inmates to be shuffled to reduce overcrowding, especially in Mumbai's Arthur Road Jail. Many had red-flagged this as a potential flashpoint for a rapid spread of COVID-19.

The Home Department had appointed a high powered committee comprising the chairperson of the State Legal Services Committee, Principal Secretary (Home) and DG (Prisons) to determine which class of prisoners could be released on parole or interim bail. (UNI)