Jammu Kashmir High Powered Committee passes guidelines for vaccination of jail inmates, release of inmates.
On 17th May, 2021 the High Powered Committee of Jammu Kashmir headed by Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey passed slew of directions for the release of jail inmates except those involved in militancy related cases and other serious crimes to decongest the prisons in the Union Territory of J&K.
Relevant extracts have been reproduced below-
“As a first measure, it was decided that all the convicts/UTPs who were released on parole/interim bail on the earlier directions of the High Power Committee shall be immediately released temporarily for a period of 90 days. Justice Magrey directed the Member Secretary, J&K Legal Services Authority to coordinate with the other two members of the committee to find out the category of convicts/UTPs who can also be released pursuant to the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court. Such an exercise shall be completed within a week and the report be placed before the committee.
Justice Magrey directed the DGP (Prisons) to coordinate with the Health department to ensure vaccination of jail inmates as well as staff on priority.
Besides this, the Committee directed the jail authorities to take appropriate steps by ensuring that the inmates and the staff wear masks and maintain social distancing and by keeping the frequently visited areas like kitchen, bathrooms etc. hygienic to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey, further directed the Legal Service Institutions across the UT of J&K to provide the services of Panel Lawyers to the inmates who are eligible to be released from the custody by moving applications on their behalf.”
