2 months ago
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The Supreme Court has directed each the States and Union Territories (UTs) to furnish updated details relating to jails, including the sanctioned capableness of each situation and steps taken to check overcrowding, by May 18, 2026.
A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta besides asked the States and UTs to supply details astir the fig of women’s prisons wrong their jurisdictions and the facilities disposable successful them, including the measures taken to guarantee acquisition and wide payment of children surviving with the pistillate inmates.
The Bench noted that elder advocator Gaurav Agrawal, who is assisting the apical tribunal arsenic an amicus curiae successful a suo motu substance concerning inhuman conditions successful jails, has drawn its attraction to the information that the statistic placed connected grounds by the States and UTs pertain to 2023.
The Bench said that, having respect to the quality of issues progressive and the necessity of an informed adjudicatory exercise, the availability of updated contemporaneous information was indispensable for the effectual information of the proceedings.
“Accordingly, we deem it due to nonstop each the States and Union territories to spot connected grounds updated and broad statistic relating to each prisons situated wrong their respective jurisdictions,” the Bench said successful its bid passed connected Tuesday (March 17, 2026).
It said the information shall see jail-wise capableness of each prison, full fig of prisoners, percent of overcrowding successful each jail, steps projected to code overcrowding, details of women’s jails, facilities provided to women prisoners and children accompanying them (including acquisition and aesculapian facilities), sanctioned spot of situation staff, existing vacancies, steps taken to capable them, on with each ancillary aspects relating to situation administration.
The Bench directed the States and UTs to furnish implicit particulars indicating the sanctioned capableness of each situation and the full fig of prisoners lodged arsenic connected March 1, 2026, on with jail-wise details reflecting the grade of occupancy.
The apex tribunal said the States and UTs would record broad affidavits, duly sworn by the location secretary, providing the requisite details by May 18.
It said the apical tribunal registry would guardant copies of the affidavits received from the States and UTs to the amicus, who would hole a broad enactment detailing the statistic and accusation provided by them.
It posted the substance for proceeding connected May 26.
