BOMBAY HIGH COURT TO DECONGEST PRISON​​​​​​​S

20th April 2021

The Bombay HC heard a suo motu PIL on the spike of Covid 19 case in Maharashtra Prisons. The Suo Motu PIL was taken after 198 inmates across 47 prisons were tested positive.

The Court suggested the state vaccinate prisoners above 45 years immediately. Moreover, the bench will consider passing a direction of shifting prisoners from one jail to another without a court order.

The Bench allowed an intervention application by Senior Adv Mihir Desai on behalf of the People's Union for Civil Liberties concerning the decongestion of prisons during the Pandemic phase. Adv Kumbhakoni appearing for the state, also made several recommendations.

The suggestions made during the hearing include:

• During the first wave of Covid, prisoners were released on bail and parole with the help of the high power committee's guidelines; the same should be done during the second wave.
• Like the first wave of covid 19, temporary prisons should be established in educational institutions, empty hostels, etc.
• Immediate RT-PCR test after arrest should be done.

Author: Papiha Ghoshal

PC: Currentaffair.org