SC directs convicts, undertrials released during Covid-19 pandemic to surrender in 15 days

In March 2020, the court had asked all states to release a section of prisoners to decongest jails in order to prevent the spread of the virus.

Scroll Staff

· Mar 24, 2023 · 08:36 pm

SC issues guidelines to ensure prisoners are not held up despite getting bail

The directions were released after the National Legal Services Authority said that by the end of last year, 5,029 undertrials were in jail after getting bail.

Scroll Staff

· Feb 02, 2023 · 12:35 pm

Eight out of ten Indian prisoners were awaiting trial in 2021, report shows

Out of the total undertrials in the country, 21.08% belonged to Scheduled Caste, 9.88% to Scheduled Tribes and 18% were Muslims.

Scroll Staff

· Sep 13, 2022 · 04:07 pm

Punished without trial: How India’s political prisoners are being denied basic rights in jail

They are often denied items of food and clothing that other inmates are allowed to access.

Umang Poddar

· Aug 09, 2022 · 06:30 am

Number of prisoners in India increased by 1.5% in 2020 – the first year of pandemic, shows report

Apart from crowding in jails during the pandemic, the India Justice Report also flagged deterioration in prisoners’ access to legal and medical services.

Scroll Staff

· Feb 09, 2022 · 07:35 pm

5,221 persons died in judicial custody in past three years, says Centre

Uttar Pradesh recorded the most deaths in judicial custody, followed by Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal and Bihar.

Scroll Staff

· Aug 12, 2021 · 02:20 pm

For much of the pandemic, Pakistan has neglected the safety of inmates in its overcrowded jails

People in detention are wards of the state, which has an obligation to uphold their rights to life and health.

Rimmel Mohydin

· Dec 20, 2020 · 09:30 pm

Children of women prisoners in India struggle to get proper food and education despite guidelines

According to data from 2019, 1,779 children live in jails with their mothers.

Shreehari Paliath, IndiaSpend.com

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Preety Acharya, IndiaSpend.com

· Oct 09, 2020 · 07:30 pm

Seven in 10 Indian prisoners are awaiting trial – one in three jail inmates is Dalit or Adivasi

Caste prejudices and over-policing of certain communities are important factors behind the significant presence of marginalised groups in jails, say experts.

Shreehari Paliath, IndiaSpend.com

· Sep 09, 2020 · 01:30 pm

Activist flags poor state of interim Maharashtra jail, officials say no plans to move inmates yet

Gautam Navlakha said 350 prisoners were crammed into six rooms, and share three toilets.

Scroll Staff

· Jun 22, 2020 · 01:40 pm

Sasikala didn’t violate prison rules, claims of special treatment are wrong, says her lawyer

An inquiry committee report showed that she was provided A-class facilities and may have even been allowed to cook in jail.

Scroll Staff

· Jan 22, 2019 · 12:19 pm

Panel investigating Sasikala’s prison facilities finds drug abuse, mobile phone use high there

The inquiry into alleged irregularities at the Bengaluru Central Prison also found that it was overpopulated and short of jail staff.

Scroll Staff

· Jan 21, 2019 · 10:44 am