Jharkhand News : The Jharkhand government is preparing to allow selected prisoners to leave jail during the day for work and earn a livelihood before returning to prison in the evening. The system will be introduced through open and semi-open barracks in four central jails across the state.
The new arrangement will be implemented at Birsa Munda Central Jail in Ranchi, Jai Prakash Narayan Central Jail in Hazaribagh, Ghaghidih Central Jail in East Singhbhum and Dumka Central Jail. Barracks and cells that will be converted for the new system have already been identified.
Prisoners Can Leave in the Morning and Return in the Evening
According to media reports, IG (Jails) Sudarshan Mandal said prisoners under the open or semi-open barrack system will be allowed to leave the jail at around 6 or 7 am to work.
They will return to jail after approximately 12 hours. Mandal said that since these prisons are located in urban areas, prisoners will have better opportunities to earn a livelihood.
Eligibility Will Depend on Good Conduct
The initiative is part of efforts to strengthen prison reforms in the state and help prisoners reintegrate into society. The state Cabinet recently approved the proposal through a government resolution.
The proposal states that the Jharkhand Jail and Correctional Services Act, 2025 provides for the establishment of open correctional institutions.
Mandal said a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) will be prepared to determine which prisoners will be eligible for the programme. Good conduct and compliance with prison rules will be the key eligibility criteria.
Initiative Follows Supreme Court Directions
The move follows directions issued by the Supreme Court in the Suhas Chakma vs Union of India case. The apex court had asked states where Open Correctional Institutions (OCIs) were not operational to assess the possibility of establishing such facilities.
Where establishing a separate OCI is not feasible, states have been advised to create open or semi-open barracks within existing prisons.
