Coronavirus: 250 prisoners to be shifted from Tihar and Rohini jails to Mandoli prison

A high-powered committee, headed by a Delhi High Court judge, has decided that 250 prisoners from Rohini and Tihar jails will be temporarily shifted to the Mandoli prison to decongest the jails in a bid to prevent the spread of coronavirus, which has infected 16,116 people and claimed 519 lives so far India.

The committee, headed by Justice Hima Kohli, resolved in its April 18 meeting that the transportation of 200 prisoners from Rohini Jail and 50 from Tihar Jail shall be done in full compliance of the social-distancing norms.

The jail administration shall ensure that no transportation in excess of half or one-fourth capacity of the bus is carried out to ensure that the prisoners maintain a considerable distance with each other during these transits, the committee, which was constituted in March on the orders of the Supreme Court, said.

"The committee, in view of the suggestions made by the Director General (Prisons), has resolved that 200 prisoners from Rohini Jail and 50 prisoners .