Gujarat jails overcrowded; State ranks high in parole jumps

Gujarat’s prison system is facing mounting pressure due to overcrowding and a rising number of parole jump cases, according to recent prison statistics. The State has also emerged among the top States in the country in terms of convicts awarded death sentences and the proportion of life-term prisoners.

Data shows that Gujarat had 49 prisoners on death row, the second-highest figure in the country after Uttar Pradesh, 141. Maharashtra reported 43 such convicts, while Madhya Pradesh and Kerala recorded 35 each.

Among the 5,231 convicted inmates lodged in Gujarat prisons, nearly two-thirds were serving life imprisonment. The share of life convicts in the State remained significantly above the national average, placing Gujarat among the top states in this category.

Under-trial prisoners formed the largest segment of the prison population, followed by convicted inmates and detainees. The report also highlighted that nearly 90 per cent of both convicted and under-trial inmates had educational qualifications only up to Class 12.

The prison population included inmates from outside Gujarat as well as foreign nationals. Hundreds of convicts and undertrials belonged to other Indian States, while several foreign nationals were also lodged in jails across Gujarat.

A demographic analysis revealed that a majority of both convicts and under-trial prisoners were below the age of 50. The report further noted that women inmates were living in prisons along with children, including convicted and under-trial women caring for infants and young children behind bars.

Among foreign convicts, Pakistani nationals accounted for the highest number in Gujarat prisons, followed by inmates from Bangladesh, African nations, West Asian countries and Nigeria. Similar trends were observed among under-trial foreign prisoners, with Pakistani nationals forming the largest group.