UP Prison Reform Push: Yogi Adityanath Orders Open Jail Plan, Relief For Elderly And Sick Inmates

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a detailed exercise to ease pressure on prisons and support vulnerable inmates. Officials must list prisoners above 75 years, those with incurable diseases, women jailed with children and prisoners still inside only because bail amounts remain unpaid.

UP News prison reform and open jail focus

During a review of the prison department, Yogi Adityanath said jails should work as centres for reform, rehabilitation and skill training, not just confinement. According to officials, only professional criminals and mafia elements need closed prisons, while the “open jail” idea is useful for minor offences.

The Chief Minister asked officers to prepare a special action plan to implement the open jail concept in Uttar Pradesh. Construction of new prisons and barracks must finish on schedule to control overcrowding. Yogi Adityanath also directed regular monitoring of all ongoing prison construction projects, including plans for multi-storey jail buildings.

Data presented in the meeting showed clear change in inmate numbers and capacity since 2017. At that time, the state had 70 jails with space for 58,400 prisoners, but 96,383 people were lodged there. Officials said the overcrowding rate then stood at 1.77, far above capacity.

Officials informed that Uttar Pradesh now has 77 operational prisons with a capacity of 77,673 inmates, while 79,782 prisoners are actually lodged there. The overcrowding rate has therefore reduced to 1.03. Yogi Adityanath said multi-storey jails should get priority to handle future needs more efficiently.

UP News on jail security, inmate welfare and open jail plan

On security, Yogi Adityanath made it clear that there will be no compromise inside jails. Technology-based surveillance must be strengthened further. The meeting was told that CCTV cameras are installed in all barracks and wire fencing has been completed on the main perimeter walls of prisons.

The Chief Minister insisted that prison administration should also support inmates’ health and mental balance. Activities such as yoga, sports, farming and cow rearing should be encouraged to create a positive atmosphere. These efforts aim to connect prisoners with the social mainstream through correctional programmes and structured routines.

Yogi Adityanath stressed that skill development and production units inside jails need expansion so inmates can become self-reliant. According to officials, 3,647 posts of different categories are currently under recruitment. Since 2017, 4,055 appointments have been made in the department and 2,868 promotions have been granted across various positions.

The Chief Minister’s directions link infrastructure growth, security upgrades, open jail planning and welfare measures into one prison reform strategy. With reduced overcrowding, new construction, technology monitoring and targeted support for elderly, ill and financially weak inmates, the state aims to present its jails as structured systems for discipline and rehabilitation.