New Delhi: Due to an unprecedented surge in Covid-19 cases in the country, the Supreme Court has ordered High Powered Committees (HPC) on Saturday to immediately release all prisoners in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
The inmates who were granted bail last year in view of the pandemic shall be again granted bail for a period of 90 days, a special Bench of Chief Justice NV Ramana and Justices L Nageswara Rao and Surya Kant further added.
The order also said the HPC to consider the release of fresh prisoners by adopting the guidelines of the National Legal Services Authority.
Following are some of the steps to be taken as per the Supreme Court order:
- All the decisions of HPC need to be published on respective State Legal Service Authorities/State Governments/High Courts official websites in order to enable an effective circulation of information.
- Covid appropriate steps shall be taken for the transportation of the released prisoners, if necessary, as curfews and lockdown have been imposed in some states.
- The spread of Covid-19 shall be controlled by regular testing of the prisoners, the jail staff and immediate treatment shall be made available to them.
- Necessary hygiene and sanitation requirement shall be improved.
Ms Kalinga