LG approves draft to amend prison rules

PAVES WAY FOR PREMATURE RELEASE OF INFIRM PRISONERS

- Sanjeev K Jha

Lieutenant governor VK Saxena on Thursday approved the draft notification of amendments to the Delhi Prison Rules, 2018, Raj Niwas officials aware of the matter said.

The development, officials said, paves the way for allowing the premature release of infirm inmates aged above 70 years, who have completed 50% of their sentences.

According to the officials, the primary purpose for the change in rules is to decongest the Capital's overcrowded jails - Tihar, Mandoli, and Rohini - which house a cumulative 20,000+ inmates against their capacity of only 10,026.

The amendment was made in compliance with a Delhi high court order in a writ petition that sought the premature release of infirm prisoners in terms of the reports of the All India Committee on Jail Reforms (1982-1983 Mulla Committee) and model Prison Rules, 2003.