1,768 Undertrial Prisoners, Convicts Return To Delhi Jails After Covid Parole

Out of the total prisoners who returned to jails, 1,245 were undertrial prisoners and 523 were convicts. As many as 448 undertrials and 195 convicts were sent back to the Tihar Jail complex.

(Representational) : The prisoners were released in order to decongest jails during the peak of Covid-19 cases.

A total number of 1,768 prisoners have surrendered to different jails in New Delhi until today after the Supreme Court's order on March 24. These patients were released on parole from jail due to the ongoing Covid pandemic. The Apex Court had directed all undertrial prisoners to return to jails within 15 days. Out of the total prisoners who returned to jails, 1,245 were undertrial prisoners and 523 were convicts. At the Tihar Jail complex alone, 448 undertrial prisoners and 195 convicts were sent back.

Further, 52 undertrials and 9 convicts returned to jails in Rohini, reported news agency ANI. A total number of 196 undertrial prisoners and 63 convicts also returned to Mandoli jail. The Supreme Court on March 24 had directed all convicts and undertrial prisoners to be sent back to jails.

These patients were released from jail on parole during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the court asked them all to get back to their jail just within 15 days, reported news agency PTI. The prisoners were released in order to decongest jails during the peak of Covid-19 cases. The move was taken to ensure the minimum spread of Covid infections inside the jails.

A bench of Justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar had ordered that all such undertrial prisoners to go ahead with regular bail peas before the courts after surrendering.

The bench said, "All the convicts who were released during the Covid-19 pandemic after their surrender can move competent courts for suspension of their sentence,"  as reported by PTI.

All the prisoners were released after recommendations by a high-powered committee meeting earlier. And most of these prisoners released on an emergency basis were inside the jails for non-heinous offences.