In a bid to ensure that COVID-19 does not spread in the jails of Gujarat, the state government has decided to release 1,200 prisoners for a period of two months.
Gujarat chief minister Vijay Rupani's office said that the convicts will be released on parole and undertrials will be given released on interim bail. The state home department has been instructed to carry out the necessary formalities.
The prisoners are being released as per the guidelines of the Supreme Court.
Medical screening of the prisoners from various jails of Gujarat will be done before sending them to their respective homes, through an arrangement made by the administration. The prisoners will be isolated if need be.
Meanwhile, the number of COVID-19 positive cases in Gujarat has gone up to 63. Five deaths have been reported so far.
Principal secretary Health Jayanti Ravi said that so far health survey of 5.65 crore people has been carried out.
She requested people not to venture out until the lockdown period gets over.
