Haryana High Powered Committee Extends Special Parole Of Convicts By Six Weeks

The High Powered Committee (HPC) was constituted at State level under the directions of  Supreme Court of India issued on 23.03.2020 in Suo Motu Writ Petition (Civil) No.1/2020-In RE: Contagion of COVID-19 in Prisons for release of convicts/undertrials on parole/interim bail. The HPC had convened meetings on different occasions for effective implementation of directions issued by Hon'ble Supreme Court of India on 23.03.2020. Various guidelines were issued by the High Powered Committee in its previous meetings dated 24.03.2020, 30.03.2020, 13.04.2020, 20.04.2020, 05.05.2020, 22.05.2020, 15.06.2020 and 31.08.2020 to the concerned authorities for taking appropriate steps for release of prisoners lodged in different jails of Haryana. All these meetings were convened through video conferencing.

Total 3,283 convicts and 1,599 undertrials were released on parole/interim bail from different jails of Haryana since 24.03.2020 to till date to avoid overcrowding in jails during outbreak of COVID-19. Various steps for safety of inmates were also taken such as setting up of special jails for lodging all new prisoners; exclusive jail for covid patients – jail inmates; expeditious covid test and reports; strict quarantine protocols for inmates and staff; appearance of inmates through video conferencing.

In the meeting, HPC has decided to restore 2,399 prisoners who are concerned in serious offences, slowly to their respective jails by taking all precautionary measures and safeguards to protect them and others in jails from COVID infection. The release of convicts by HPC was a temporary measure to reduce the risk of infection within the jails and secure the lives of prisoners and staff working therein from this deadly virus.

Noting that the Jail authorities have sufficient space in prisons to accommodate 2,399 convicts who are concerned in serious offences punishable with more than seven years imprisonment, the HPC has directed the jail authorities to ask such convicts to surrender from 17.11.2020 instead of 02.10.2020. Special parole has been extended by six weeks till 16.11.2020. Surrender shall be in 09 staggered stages in order to avoid any kind of risk of infection amongst the jail inmates. All the convicts will be intimated their date of surrender and date of surrender will be fixed on the basis of term of imprisonment. Convicts with longer term will surrender first.

In this regard, the jail authorities and health authorities have been directed to coordinate with each other and take all necessary steps for testing of 2,399 convicts for their readmission in jails. Effective steps will be taken by jail authorities for surrender of these convicts by following due procedure.

That apart, various other directions have been issued to the jail authorities, health authorities and administration to ensure prevention of COVID-19 infection in the jails. They have been asked to take appropriate steps for shifting of prisoners from one jail to another in view of availability of space and infrastructure, using of special jails and temporary jails for asymptomatic prisoners and to follow necessary health protocols at the time of shifting of prisoners etc.