2020 (4) TMI 572

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....vendra Kumar, Adv., Mr Narendra Kumar, AOR, Mr. Milind Kumar, AOR, Mr. Vishal Meghwal, Adv., Mr. Jayanth Muthraj, Sr. Adv./AAG, Mr. M. Yogesh Kanna, AOR, Mr. S. Raja Rajeshwaran, Adv., Mr. Arun R. Pednekar, Adv., Mr. Hitesh Kumar Sharma, Adv., Ms. Mukti Chowdhary, AOR, Ms. Ashima Mandla, Adv., Mr. Fuzail Ahmad Ayyubi, AOR, Mr. Ibad Mushtaq, Adv., Mr. Vishal Tiwari, PIP, Mr. Avijit Mani Tripathi, AOR, Mr. V.G. Pragasam, AOR, Mr. S. Prabu Ramasubramanian, Adv., Mr. K.V. Jagdishvaran, Adv., Ms. G. Indira, AOR, Mr. Sachin Patil, Adv., Mr. Geo Joseph, Adv., Ms. Bansuri, AAG, Dr. Monika Gusain, AOR With Mr. Jagjit Singh, IG Prisons (Haryana), Mr. P. Venkat Reddy, Adv., Mr. Prashant Tyagi, Adv., Mr. P. Srinivas Reddy, Adv., For M/s. Venkat Palwai ....

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....he State of Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh and UT of Jammu & Kashmir, though have filed their responses with regard to the measures taken for prisons but have not submitted their response in relation to measures taken for juveniles in Remand Homes. An overview of the responses reflects that considerable measures for protection of health and welfare of the prisoners to restrict the transmission of COVID-19 have been taken by the State Governments. These measures generally include creation of isolation wards, quarantine of new prisoners including prisoners of foreign nationality for a specific period, preliminary examination of prisoners for COVID-19, ensuring availability of medical assistance, ....

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....isons where the number of prisoners is low. The State of Punjab has directed to identify places in and around the prison, which can be used as a temporary prison in case if there is an outbreak of the virus. The State of Haryana has directed prisons to prepare blockwise time table relating to food and other services for prevention of overcrowding. Andhra Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Maharashtra and UT of Ladakh have identified special groups of prisoners, which are more vulnerable such as old age prisoners with respiratory diseases etc. to infections for special focus and scrutiny. Looking into the possible threat of transmission and fatal consequences, it is necessary that prisons must ensure maximum possible distancing among the pri....

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....e pandemic of Corona Virus (COVID - 19). Having regard to the provisions of Article 21 of the Constitution of India, it has become imperative to ensure that the spread of the Corona Virus within the prisons is controlled. We direct that each State/Union Territory shall constitute a High Powered Committee comprising of (i) Chairman of the State Legal Services Committee, (ii) the Principal Secretary (Home/Prison) by whatever designation is known as, (ii) Director General of Prison(s), to determine which class of prisoners can be released on parole or an interim bail for such period as may be thought appropriate. For instance, the State/Union Territory could consider the release of prisoners who have been convicted or are undertrial for offe....