Haryana may soon have open jails

Haryana government is considering opening a few 'open' jails in line with the ones operating in states like Rajasthan and Gujarat.
Talking to mediapersons here today, Director General (Prisons) Yashpal Singhal said that he had talked to the DG (Prisons) Rajasthan recently and got the details of working of such jails there.
"The necessity of setting up such jails is being examined. There are 18,000 inmates in various central and district jails in Haryana, out of which hardly 30 per cent are hardcore criminals," said Singhal.
He also said that the jail department is taking various steps to check the illegal use of mobile phones inside prisons.

"The department is in process of installing jammers in various jails to check the illegal use of mobile phones by the inmates. Also, those inmates from whose possession mobile phones are recovered will not be granted routine parole," said Singhal.
However, landline phones are made available in most of the jails so that the inmates can talk to their relatives for 35 minutes in a week.
Singhal said that they are also planning to start yoga classes in some jails with the help of an NGO.