Decongestion Of Prisons: Madras HC Issues Notices On Plea For Constitution Of High Powered Committee To Determine Class Of Prisoners That May Be Released Temporarily [Read Order]

Notably, on March 23, a Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice S A Bobde had directed all states 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. It had also observed that the prisoners convicted of or charged with offences having jail term of up to seven years can be given parole to decongest jails.

In view thereof, the states of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Kerala have already released prisoners convicted of or charged with offences having jail term of up to seven years on interim bail.

Seeking enforcement of the abovementioned order of the top court, the Petitioner-resident V. Krishnamurthy had approached the High Court for a Writ of Certiorarified Mandamus, directing the respondents immediately to formulate a High Powered committee.

After hearing the parties, the bench of Dr. Justice Vineet Kothari and Justice R. Suresh Kumar directed the state government, through Additional Advocate General, to file a brief report on the matter by April 8.

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