COVID-19: Bombay HC asks state govt to expedite process of releasing eligible prisoners

The Bombay High Court has ordered Maharashtra government to expedite the process of releasing prisoners and undertrials identified as qualified to be freed on temporary bail or parole in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Public prosecutor Deepak Thakare informed Justice G S Kulkarni on Thursday about the pursuant to a Supreme Court order, the state government has made a decision to release prisoners on temporary basis convicted for up to seven years and undertrials facing offences for which jail term is up to seven years.

The court was informed to release approximately 11,000 prisoners on emergency parole for a period of 45 days. So far 4,060 prisoners have been released on parole and process is on to release the remaining inmates, Thakare told the court. 

He also said that there has not been a single COVID-19 case in any prison in Maharashtra. He told the court that at present there is not a single case of COVID-19 in any prison in the state.