The Supreme Court on Saturday passed a detailed order on decongesting prisons amid the raging Covid-19 pandemic.
The court said that the police should not arrest the accused unless necessary in crimes sentenced with less than seven years of imprisonment. It also directed the authorities to ensure that proper medical facilities are provided to the inmates.
The court has asked the state governments and Union territories to identify and release the vulnerable categories of prisoners on an urgent basis.
In addition, the Supreme Court also directed that prisoners who were granted parole last year should again be given a 90-day furlough owing to the pandemic.