Himachal Pradesh Guidelines for Decongestion of Prisons

On 13th May, 2021, the Himachal Pradesh High Powered Committee issued guidelines to decongest prisons. They are:

1) Convicts presently out on parole must be granted an additional parole of 90 days.

2) Convicts previously given special parole and who have surrendered on time must be granted special parole for additional 90 days.

3) Applications for parole by convicts will be considered liberally

4) Foreign national convicts will not be considered for grant of special parole

5) New entrants to jails will be kept in isolation cells or temporary jails and receive medical check-ups.

6) District Legal Services Authorities and Jail Authorities shall assist in identifying prisoners who may be eligible for pre-mature release.

7) Prison occupancy shall be updated onto jail websites

8) Inmates and jail staff are entitled to proper medical facilities and masks, sanitizers and PPE kits (when required).

9) Chief Medical Officer shall conduct proper health check-up of prisoners and undertrials before their release on parole or interim bail.