Coronavirus: SC directs states, UTs to set up panel to consider release of prisoners on parole
Written By judy
Published: Mar 22, 2020, 20:42 IST | Updated: Mar 22, 2020, 20:42 IST
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The Supreme Court on Monday said that prisoners convicted of or charged with offences having prison terms up to seven years can be given parole to decongest the jails because of coronavirus, reported news agency ANI.
The apex court directed all the state governments and Union territories to set up high-level committees to determine the class of prisoners who could be released on parole for four to six weeks to safeguard them in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
Supreme Court on overcrowding in jails: We direct each state govt to constitute a high power committee comprising of Law Secretary and Chairman of State Legal Service Authority to determine which class of convicts or undertrials can be released on parole or interim bail
A bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde said the high-level committees would work in consultation with the state legal service authority for release of prisoners.
The top court made it clear that prisoners are being released in an attempt to avoid overcrowding in jails because of the outbreak.