[Covid-19] High Powered Committee for Jammu & Kashmir directs release of jail inmates except those involved in militancy cases or serious crimes

A High Powered Committee constituted for the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir pursuant to the Supreme Court's orders has directed that all convicts and under trial prisoners (UTPs) except those involved in militancy related cases and serious crimes should be released from prisons for the time being in view of COVID-19 pandemic. .The Committee headed by Jammu & Kashmir High Court judge, Justice Ali Mohammad Magrey, Executive Chairman, J&K Legal Services Authority along with Mr. Shaleen Kabra, Principal Secretary, Home Department, Dr. B Srinivas, DGP (Prisons) as its members, also directed the DGP (Prisons) to coordinate with the Health department to ensure vaccination of jail inmates as well as staff on priority.."High Powered Committee 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," a press release issued in this regard by Jammu & Kashmir Legal Services Authority said. .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, the press release said. Justice Magrey also 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 Supreme Court. Such an exercise shall be completed within a week and the report be placed before the committee..Besides this, the Committee directed the jail authorities to take appropriate steps by ensuring that prison 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..The committee was constituted by the Jammu and Kashmir government following an order by the Supreme Court on March 23, 2020 and May 7, 2021 directing the states and the UTs to decongest jails to ensure social distancing among the prisoners, while observing that overcrowding of prisons is a matter of serious concern in the wake of second wave of coronavirus outbreak..The Supreme Court had on May 7, 2021 directed that prisoners across the country who were released last year due to COVID-19 pandemic and subsequently re-imprisoned after COVID-19 pandemic seemingly reduced, would be eligible for immediate release again in view of the surge in COVID cases..The Court had, therefore, directed High Powered Committees (HPC) constituted by the State Governments/ Union Territories to immediately free such prisoners temporarily.Besides such prisoners, the HPCs should also consider fresh release by adopting the guidelines including standard operating procedure and guidelines laid down by National Legal Services Authority, at the earliest.