The Bengal government on Monday had ordered the release of 63 life convicts from prisons from jail over the importance of social distancing amid covid. 

“There was a need to decongest the prisons because of the prevailing Covid-19 situation. Section 432 of the CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure) empowers the state government to consider the premature release of life convicts who have already served 14 years in jail,” a senior official of the state government said on condition of anonymity.

 The officer said 61 male convicts aged above 60 years and two female convicts aged above 55 years were among those to be released after completion of formalities.

“While the total holding capacity of our correctional homes is around 21,500, there are around 23,000 – 24,000 inmates in jails across the state,” said an official of the jail department. At present, there are 60 correctional homes in Bengal including seven Central prisons, five special jails, and one woman correctional home among others.

Bengal is under covid curbs and yet its restrictions are not over. The daily count of Covid-19 cases in West Bengal crossed 20000 in mid-May after the assembly elections ended, but it is now less than 1000. 

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