Under-trials and convicts released because of Covid-19 in West Bengal: Court to take call

KOLKATA: The three months term for the nearly 4,600 inmates released by the West Bengal government either on parole or on interim bail as a process to de-congest correctional homes in the wake of Covid-19 outbreak is coming to an end. The state government is looking forward to the court that will take the final call on the future of these inmates. The first batch of prisoners was released on March end and is likely to end their term by the end of this month.
"It was under the direction of the Supreme Court, the Calcutta high court formed a High Power Committee and had asked the government to prepare a report on the number of inmates who could be granted bail or parole to avoid crowding in jails, in view of the Covid-19 outbreak. The department then prepared a list of inmates eligible for parole and bail and forwarded it to the court. Inmates were released following the guideline laid down by the court," a senior official of the state correctional home department said. "Now the court will have to take the call and instruct the state government and the government will act on the basis of that. We are just the implementing authority," the official added.
When asked about it, state correctional administration minister Ujjwal Biswas said, "The court is supposed to decide on the issue and we still have some time left. It will not be a very big problem I think". When asked that congestion of jail in the present situation is still risky, Biswas said, "The term for the people who are on parole can be extended but the people who are on interim bail will have to make fresh prayer for extension of period. Once they appeal the government will consider their cases. We are working on all possible situations and are waiting for the court’s direction. Once they give us the order we will work accordingly". "We have taken other measures such as ensuring that the inmates use protective gears and maintain social distancing norms in correctional homes," headed.
According to state government officials so far, nearly 4,600 inmates have been granted bail or parole. Out of whom, little more than 3,200 are under trial prisoners and the remaining are convicts. The state has six central correctional homes, 12 district correctional homes, three special correctional homes, two women's correctional homes, one open-air correctional home, and 33 subsidiary correctional homes. The combined registered capacity of these facilities is 20,802 including 1,637 females.