Srinagar, Apr 29: The government has informed the High Court that 223 persons were released from different prisons of Jammu & Kashmir from April 1 to 22.

According to report submitted by DG Prisons V.K. Singh 223 prisoners have been released from jails of Jammu and Kashmir.

“Mr. V. K. Singh has informed this court that between 1st April 2020 to 22nd April 2020, the High Powered Committee has released a total of 92 under trial prisoners; 11 persons who had been arrested under Sections 107, 109, 151 CrPC; 24 prisoners have been released on parole and 96 more prisoners have been released,” the order states.

The Court has been informed that 15 prisoners are lodged in District Jail, Karnal and 2 in District Jail, Jhajjar. “Additionally, the report received from Director General of Prisons, Haryana regarding prisoners from Jammu and Kashmir who are lodged in Haryana has been placed before us.

We are informed that 15 prisoners are lodged in District Jail, Karnal and 2 in District Jail, Jhajjar. Mr. Singh has informed that all detenues of Jammu and Kashmir lodged in Haryana are being screened by medical team twice a day; that the health status of all these detenues is thus monitored daily and they have been found normal till 21st April 2020,” it further states. The Court was informed that there are prisoners of J&K in six jails in UP .

After perusing the reports by jail authorities, the Court observed that “it would appear that the jail authorities are conscious of the responsibility regarding the health and safety of the residents of the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh who are lodged in prisons in other parts of India”.

“The DG Prisons shall continue to monitor their well -being and ensure that the health and safety is not compromised in any manner,” the court directed—(KNO)