Convene meeting on feasibility of having open jails: SC to MHA

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Ministry of Home Affairs to convene a meeting of directors general or inspectors general of prisons of all states and union territories to discuss the feasibility of establishing open jails across the country.

Semi-open prison or open prison allows convicts to work outside the premises of the jail and earn a livelihood and return in the evening.

The concept was brought in to assimilate the convicts with the society and reduce their psychological pressure as they face lack of confidence in leading normal lives outside.

The apex court asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to send a communication to all the states and Union Territories s for their response on whether they were willing to set up open jails and how they would manage them.

A bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta said the concerned authorities of states and UTs would give their response to the Ministry of Home Affairs within four weeks after which a meeting be held in the first week of February to discuss the issue.

During the hearing, an advocate, assisting the court as an amicus curiae in the matter, said there were 63 open prisons in the country as of now housing around 6,000 inmates.