Decongestion Of Jails Due To COVID-19: 3190 Prisoners Released On Bail

Cuttack:  In compliance with the Supreme Court orders, 3190 prisoners were released on bail, 281 on special furlough and 10 on parole till April 15, said an official statement on Monday. The step was taken  in view of the overcrowding of jails especially in Rayagada, Dharmagarh and Nuapada and the fear of spread of COVID-19.

DG Prisons Santosh Upadhayay presented this data in a meeting held by the High Powered Committee (HPC) headed by Acting Chief Justice of OHC-cum-Executive Chairperson of Odisha State Legal Services Authority (OSLSA) Justice Sanju Panda and Principal Secretary Home Sanjeev Chopra.

SC guidelines relating to prisoners suffering from COVID 19:

• Prisoners suffering from coronavirus not to be released. Test to be carried out.
• If a released prisoner is found infected, he/she should be placed in quarantine.
• Transportation to be done in compliance with the rules of social distancing.