Social Justice
Release Prisoners Due to Covid-19
- 14 Apr 2020
- 2 min read
Why in News
Recently, the Supreme Court passed orders in a suo motu hearing on measures taken to decongest prisons, correction homes and detention centres due to the Covid-19 outbreak.
Key Points
- Earlier, the Bench had ordered the States and the Union Territories to set up special committees to examine the cases of prisoners and shortlist those who could be granted bail or parole.
- The SC ordered not to release prisoners on interim bail or parole who test positive for Covid-19.
- The court ordered to release prisoners or detenus who have been under detention for two years in the foreigners’ detention centres in Assam on account of the Coronavirus pandemic.
- The court modified its May 2019 order to allow these detenus to furnish a bond of Rs. 5,000 instead of Rs. 1 lakh. The Court also asked them to furnish two Indian citizens as sureties.
- The central government objected to their release on the grounds that they will mix with the local population again
- The Court ordered that appropriate tests for Covid-19 should be conducted on prisoners scheduled for release.
- In case a prisoner who has been released is suffering from coronavirus after the release, he/she shall be put in an appropriate quarantine facility by the concerned authorities.
- The court directed that transportation of prisoners would be done in full compliance of the rules and norms of social distancing.
