In a bizarre incident, over 21 convicts lodged in various jails in Uttar Pradesh have refused to avail parole citing the reason that they feel safer inside the prison. Supreme Court had issued directions to decongest overcrowded prisons in view of the Covid-19 pandemic.
UP Director General (Prison) Anand Kumar said that 21 convicts from nine prisons have refused parole. They took the decision fearing that the chances of getting infected with the virus are high outside of prisons and cited the better care in jails as the reason to stay back.
“Some of the prisoners said that they did not want to avail parole because they are about to complete their jail term. Going out on parole would be regarded as a break which they would have to complete after returning to the jail,” DG said.
Jail officials said that the health of prisoners is being regularly monitored and they are getting nutritious food. “Prisoners say that they have access to better healthcare facilities, food and medicine inside prisons. Many of them feel that they would not get proper care and facilities in their villages,” said a prison officer.
What is Parole?
Parole is a temporary suspension of the sentence. To read more about the provisions, you can go through Prison Act 1894.
