While delivering a judgement a judge has suggested to the Delhi Govt that it should consider the model where first-time convicts with very less risk of absconding and non-dangerous women convicts should be allowed to go out of jail premises for work and return in the evening for the headcount.
She stated that there are 32 such prisons already in the country. She specifically referred to one in Bilaspur in Himachal Pradesh. Most of the prisoners housed in that prison work during day time in the city. She stated that idea is to provide convicts a corrective and rehabilitatory process. She mentioned that despite the liberty given to prisoners in Bilaspur prison, none of them have resorted to any offending or violative behaviour or had a second innings in crime. It has been been able to re-integrate the inmates into the society, the objective of a prison.
The judge further stated that while rapists, pick-pockets, thieves and burglars are excluded from the benefit, murder convicts are allowed where it had been established in the judgement that the murder happened in the heat of the moment. The system also allows women in the above-mentioned category to leave in the evening to be with their families and return to the prison in the morning. Judge stated that a modified version could be implemented for Delhi without any additional financial burden.
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Dear All
I would like to share here that Indian Immunological (which is a wholly owned subsidiary of National Dairy Development Board, Anand) located in Hyderabad, has a tie-up with the local prison, whereby the prisoners were hired as labor. Social angle to this approach, to my knowledge, has never been emphasized by Indian Immunological or NDDB, for whatever reasons.Â
I am sure there could be many more such examples across the country. But, these are small initiatives here and there. There is no policy on this and there has been not effort to amend the Jail Manual of the British Raj!
Best regards
Sriraman  Â