The capacity of prisoners in 36 jails of the state is only 23 thousand, while more than 42 thousand prisoners

Prisoner holding capacity only 23 thousand Process of construction of additional jails started Currently there are 36 prisons in the state and more than 42 thousand prisoners are confined in these prisons. The state government informed the court through an affidavit that these jails have the capacity to house only 23,217 prisoners.

While giving judgment on a petition filed by the ‘Jan Adalat’ organization regarding overcrowding in jails, it had ordered the formation of a committee to find a solution to this problem. Accordingly, a committee headed by retired High Court judge S. Radhakrishnanwas formed.

The committee also recommended how the prisons should be and how to increase their number. The government has also claimed in this affidavit that necessary measures are being taken on the recommendations made by the committee.

To improve this situation and keeping in mind the future requirement, the process of constructing additional jails at Ahmednagar, Baramati, Palghar, Hingoli, Gondia, Bhusawal is underway. Two additional jails are to be constructed on the land of Yerwada (Pune) and Thane Central Jails.

Therefore, the affidavit also said that the capacity of keeping prisoners in these jails will increase by 9 thousand 549.
Six more jails are proposed at Alibaug, Satara, Sangli, Nanded and Beed along with Mumbai and search for space is on. The government has informed in the affidavit that five more open jails are proposed in Yerwada, Kolhapur, Nagpur, Amravati and Akola.