Assam’s prisons are nearing decongestion following the release of hundreds of undertrial prisoners on personal recognisance (PR) bonds, significantly easing overcrowding across several correctional facilities, officials said.
According to the Assam Prisons Department, the move has led to a substantial reduction in the inmate population, bringing it closer to the sanctioned capacity of jails in the state. Assam’s prisons have a combined capacity of around 10,400 inmates, while the current population has dropped to just over 11,500, a marked improvement compared to previous months.
Officials said three of the six central jails in the state — Tezpur, Dibrugarh and Jorhat — are now operating below their sanctioned capacity. The Guwahati Central Jail, which had been among the most overcrowded facilities, witnessed the release of nearly 400 undertrial inmates on PR bonds over the past three months.
At its peak, the Guwahati Central Jail housed close to 2,000 inmates, many of them undertrials. Overcrowding had worsened in recent years due to a surge in arrests under stringent laws such as the NDPS Act and the POCSO Act.
The release of undertrials on PR bonds follows judicial directives emphasising that detention should not continue merely because an accused is unable to furnish sureties. Courts have been encouraged to grant bail on personal bonds, especially in cases involving prolonged incarceration of undertrial prisoners.
Prison officials said the decongestion has improved living conditions for inmates and reduced pressure on jail infrastructure and staff. “This is a positive step towards ensuring more humane conditions in prisons while upholding the principles of justice,” a senior official said.
Authorities added that efforts are ongoing to further reduce overcrowding through faster disposal of cases and closer coordination between the judiciary, police and prison authorities.
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