Panel on jail decongestion upset over lack of action

New Delhi: A high-powered committee constituted for taking steps to decongest prisons in the wake of coronavirus has expressed its deep anguish after it found that no steps were taken to implement its resolution on remission of sentence to the convicts.

The committee headed by Delhi High Court judge Justice Hima Kohli and also comprising Tihar Jail DG Sandeep Goyal, Principal Secretary (Home) Satya Gopal and Kanwaljit Arora, was set up pursuant to the orders of the Supreme Court in order to decongest the prisons.

After Justice Hima Kohli expressed displeasure, Principal Secretary (Home) apprised her that on the basis of resolution, the Delhi government has passed the necessary orders "granting remission of sentence".

He further assured the court that the said orders will be communicated to D.G.(Prisons) during the course of the day.

Goyal said he will expedite the process within two-three days of receipt of the orders from the government of NCT of Delhi in order to achieve the objective, for which the committee is constituted.