Undertrials constitute 75.09 per cent of the total prison population in the country
According to the statistics relating to the jail population in the country, compiled by the Custodial Justice Cell of the Commission, a total of 2,25,873 persons out of the jail population of 3,00,811 persons, are undertrials. This analysis is based on data as of 31 December 2001, that was obtained from all the States and Union Territories.
Among the States, 97.3% of the prison population in Meghalaya are undertrials while the figure for Dadra & Nagar Haveli is 94.83%, Manipur - 93.99%, Jammu & Kashmir - 89.9%, Uttar Pradesh - 89.77%, Bihar - 85.77%, Jharkhand - 85.37%, Mizoram - 82.83%, Nagaland - 82.08%, Karnataka - 80.47% and Delhi - 79.53%. Tamil Nadu has recorded the least number of undertrials, only 32.78% of its total prison population are undertrials.
The authorized jail capacity in the country is 2,27,313, resulting in an over- crowding of 32.33%. The maximum overcrowding in jails is in Delhi, which has an overcrowding of 189%. Delhi is followed by Jharkhand with183%, Haryana - 158%, Chhatisgarh - 144%, Uttar Pradesh - 90%, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar - 74% each, Sikkim - 69%, Andaman & Nicobar - 64%, Orissa - 55%, Gujarat - 54%, Tripura - 39%.
Conversely, some States/UTs have recorded an idle capacity in their jails. Lakshadweep has a 100% idle capacity followed by Manipur - 68.17%, Daman & Diu - 65%, Tamil Nadu - 62.58%, Chandigarh - 59.8%, Jammu & Kashmir - 51.66%, Nagaland - 46.12%, West Bengal - 41.2%, Dadra & Nagar Haveli - 40%, Rajasthan - 17.27%, Uttaranchal - 15.67%, Mizoram - 15.44%, Pondicherry - 14.1% and Kerala - 8.82%.
Women account for 3.08% of the total jail population. The percentage of women prisoners is the highest in Dadra & Nagar Haveli – 12.5%, followed by Mizoram - 8.83%, Punjab - 5.48%, Delhi - 4.78%, Andhra Pradesh - 4.56%, and West Bengal - 4.26%.
Among the States, 97.3% of the prison population in Meghalaya are undertrials while the figure for Dadra & Nagar Haveli is 94.83%, Manipur - 93.99%, Jammu & Kashmir - 89.9%, Uttar Pradesh - 89.77%, Bihar - 85.77%, Jharkhand - 85.37%, Mizoram - 82.83%, Nagaland - 82.08%, Karnataka - 80.47% and Delhi - 79.53%. Tamil Nadu has recorded the least number of undertrials, only 32.78% of its total prison population are undertrials.
The authorized jail capacity in the country is 2,27,313, resulting in an over- crowding of 32.33%. The maximum overcrowding in jails is in Delhi, which has an overcrowding of 189%. Delhi is followed by Jharkhand with183%, Haryana - 158%, Chhatisgarh - 144%, Uttar Pradesh - 90%, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar - 74% each, Sikkim - 69%, Andaman & Nicobar - 64%, Orissa - 55%, Gujarat - 54%, Tripura - 39%.
Conversely, some States/UTs have recorded an idle capacity in their jails. Lakshadweep has a 100% idle capacity followed by Manipur - 68.17%, Daman & Diu - 65%, Tamil Nadu - 62.58%, Chandigarh - 59.8%, Jammu & Kashmir - 51.66%, Nagaland - 46.12%, West Bengal - 41.2%, Dadra & Nagar Haveli - 40%, Rajasthan - 17.27%, Uttaranchal - 15.67%, Mizoram - 15.44%, Pondicherry - 14.1% and Kerala - 8.82%.
Women account for 3.08% of the total jail population. The percentage of women prisoners is the highest in Dadra & Nagar Haveli – 12.5%, followed by Mizoram - 8.83%, Punjab - 5.48%, Delhi - 4.78%, Andhra Pradesh - 4.56%, and West Bengal - 4.26%.