In a notable stride towards prison reform, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee recently announced that the state government has facilitated the release of 840 prisoners who were serving life sentences since 2011. Each of these individuals had already completed more than 14 years behind bars.
Through a recent social media update, Ms. Banerjee further revealed that an additional 45 inmates are currently undergoing the legal process for their release. She extended her heartfelt congratulations to these individuals and their families, acknowledging their good conduct during their time in prison as a key factor in this decision.
The Chief Minister underscored the fundamental purpose of the correctional system: to transform the outlook of offenders and help them seamlessly rejoin society. She expressed a hopeful vision that these newly freed citizens would embark on a path of responsible and productive living.
West Bengal’s correctional facilities have long grappled with severe overcrowding, a challenge exacerbated by the presence of ‘jankhalash’ prisoners—those who remain incarcerated even after serving their full terms, often due to bureaucratic hurdles or identity verification issues.
According to the “Prison Statistics in India-2022” report, jails across West Bengal are designed to accommodate 19,556 males and 1,920 females. However, as of December 21, 2021, the actual inmate population stood at 26,994 males, 1,778 females, and 17 transgender individuals, significantly exceeding the intended capacity by 1.3 times.
Data obtained by RTI activist Sair Ahamed highlights a consistent increase in the total prisoner count, rising from 23,810 in January 2019 to 28,789 by January 2022. The issue of ‘jankhalash’ prisoners shows an even sharper escalation, jumping from 277 (comprising 226 males and 51 females) in 2019 to 401 (358 males and 43 females) in 2022. This persistent problem is compounded by a significant number of inmates who are Bangladeshi nationals, often remaining in prison long after their sentences are complete due to complex deportation processes.