Prisoners need to be released on bail, parole as Covid grow in Delhi

A high powered committee constituted to decongest jails to prevent spread of Covid-19 has said there is a need to release prisoners on interim bail in wake of increasing Covid cases in Delhi.

A high-powered committee constituted to decongest jails to prevent the spread of Covid-19 has said there is a need to release prisoners on interim bail for 90 days or eight weeks parole in view of the "alarming" and "threatening" situation of the pandemic in the national capital. The committee, headed by Justice Vipin Sanghi, observed that the entire country was "engulfed" in the second wave of Covid-19, which according to the medical and expert opinion is more virulent and fatal in comparison to the last year's strain and in a matter of few weeks has left everyone "gasping for air". "It has led everyone to struggle to breathe or with asphyxia, which is the most terrifying human experience. Breathing fresh air which one takes for granted and used to do more than a dozen times every minute, in the present circumstances has turned into an ordeal. Right to Life under Article 21 is the most precious Fundamental Right of every citizen of India. It unconditionally embraces even an undertrial/convict walled off from the society," the committee said while laying down the criteria for release of around 4,000 undertrial prisoners (UTPs) on interim bail for 90 days.