COVID-19:Man suffering from mental illness vulnerable to infection, HC releases from jail

A convict, suffering from a serious mental illness, has been directed to be released from jail for 45 days by the Delhi High Court which observed he would be more vulnerable to infection in prison during the COVID-19 pandemic as he would not be able to take precautions and maintain the required hygiene.

The court, which was informed that the convict is not in a position to find his way back home, asked the jail superintendent to call his sister when the man is scheduled to be released and she will take him home safely.

Justice Anup Jairam Bhambhani, who conducted the hearing through video conferencing, suspended the man's sentence for 45 days saying it would be in the interest of the health and safety, not only of this convict, but also other jail inmates if he is released to decongest an overcrowded prison and thereby to prevent unwarranted exposure.

The man was serving seven years imprisonment in a criminal case and as per the nominal roll provided to the court by the jail ...