Kerala
Kerala director of prison orders to grant parole, bail to prisoners amid Covid cases' spike
Thiruvananthapuram/UNI: Kerala Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services Rishi Raj Singh has directed to grant parole and bail to the prisoners citing the rising number of Covid cases in jails within the state.
As many as 1,850 prisoners including 1500 convicted and 350 in remand will get parole on the basis of the Supreme Court order on May 7 citing the unprecedented increase in the Covid cases in jails in the country.
Directing to decongest the prisons amid the crisis, the apex court had earlier asked to form a High Power Committee to look into the matter.
Following this, a High Power Committee has been formed with Kerala High Court Judge CT Ravikumar, Home Secretary TK Jose and Rishi Raj Singh as its members.
However, prisoners who are convicted for drug abuse and anti-national activities, will not be given relaxation.
But, prisoners who have no criminal background or are convicted on a single case including those imprisoned for less than seven years will be considered for parole.
According to the direction, men above 60 years of age and women above 50 years are also eligible for parole. The prisoners who availed of parole during the first wave of Covid will also be released.
The released prisoners were insisted to stay at their home and directed to strictly follow the Covid guidelines issued by the Health Department and the Police Department.
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