4,18,536 prisoners lodged in different jails in the country

There were a total of 4,18,536, inmates lodged in the jails in the country by the end of December 2014.

New Delhi: There were a total of 4,18,536, inmates lodged in the jails in the country as against the capacity of 3,56,361 prisoners, by the end of December 2014, Rajya Sabha was informed on Wednesday.

In Delhi jails, a total of 14,316 prisoners were lodged against the sanctioned capacity of 6,250 prisoners, till December 1 this year, Minister of State for Home Affairs Haribhai Parathibhai Chaudhary said in a written reply to a question by Shiv Sena MP Anil Desai.

Desai mentioning the recent violence in Tihar jail had sought to know whether the Indian prisons were meant to rehabilitate inmates or "ruin" them and whether Home ministry is taking any steps to reform the criminal justice system.

"Notwithstanding isolated incidents of violence, every possible step is being taken by Tihar jails to reform, rehabilitate and reinstate prisoners in the society after their release," said the Minister.

Stating that 'Prisons' is a State Subject under List II of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, he added that prison administration is the responsibility of the state governments.

"Amendments in criminal justice system is a continuous process in order to make the laws in sync with the social changes," he added.