Jharkhand prisoners to work outside jail during day under new open barrack system

RANCHI: Jharkhand govt will allow selected prisoners to step outside the jail during the day to work, earn a livelihood, and support their families before returning to prison in the evening.

The arrangement will be introduced through open and semi-open barracks at four central jails - Birsa Munda Central Jail in Ranchi, Jai Prakash Narayan Central Jail in Hazaribag, Ghaghidih Central Jail in East Singhbhum, and Dumka Central Jail. Barracks and cells have already been identified for conversion at the four prisons.

"Under the open or semi-open barrack system, inmates will be allowed to go out around 6am or 7am to work and earn for their families and return to the prison after about 12 hours. Since these facilities are in urban centres, prisoners will have reasonable opportunities to earn a livelihood," IG (prisons) Sudarshan Mandal said Saturday.

The initiative is part of the state's efforts to strengthen correctional reforms and help prisoners reintegrate into society. It was approved recently by the state cabinet through a govt resolution. The resolution noted that the Jharkhand Prison and Correctional Service Act, 2025, provides for the establishment of open correctional institutions.

The move also follows a Supreme Court directive in the Suhas Chakma vs the Union of India case. The top court had asked states without functional OCIs to assess the feasibility of establishing such institutions. Where setting up separate OCIs is not feasible, states have been advised to create open or semi-open barracks within existing prisons.

"A standard operating procedure (SOP) will be drawn up to determine which prisoners qualify for the programme. Good conduct and adherence to prison rules will be among the key eligibility criteria," Mandal said.