Overcrowding in Uttarakhand Jails: 5521 Prisoners Lodged Against 3541 Capacity

DAINIK NATION BUREAU/DEHRADUN

Uttarakhand jails are overcrowded despite state is known as peaceful state. According to RTI information provided by the Prison Headquarters, a total of 5,521 prisoners are currently housed in the state’s 10 general jails, significantly exceeding the sanctioned capacity of 3,541. Additionally, 45 convicted prisoners are lodged in the Sampurnanand Camp Sitarganj open jail.

RTI activist Nadeem Uddin from Kashipur sought information regarding jail capacities and occupancy levels from the Inspector General of Prisons, Uttarakhand. In response, Public Information Officer Manoj Kholia, in his letter dated February 7, 2025, provided data highlighting the alarming state of overcrowding in most jails.

Except for Sampurnanand Camp Jail Sitarganj (open jail) and District Jail Chamoli, all other jails house prisoners beyond their sanctioned limits. The most overcrowded is Almora District Jail, operating at 285% of its capacity, accommodating 291 prisoners against an approved capacity of 102. Other jails facing extreme overcrowding include:

• District Jail Nainital – 201% occupancy (143 prisoners against 71 capacity)
• District Jail Dehradun – 193% occupancy (1122 prisoners against 580 capacity)
• Sub Jail Haldwani – 187% occupancy (1188 prisoners against 635 capacity)
• Central Jail Sitarganj – 156% occupancy (860 prisoners against 552 capacity)
• District Jail Tehri – 132% occupancy (198 prisoners against 150 capacity)
• Roorkee Sub Jail – 131% occupancy (319 prisoners against 244 capacity)
• District Jail Haridwar – 126% occupancy (1120 prisoners against 888 capacity)
• District Jail Pauri – 107% occupancy (160 prisoners against 150 capacity)

The only exceptions are Sampurnanand Camp Jail Sitarganj, which houses just 45 prisoners against its 300-capacity (15% occupancy), and Chamoli Jail, which has 120 prisoners against its 169-capacity (71% occupancy).

The RTI data also reveals that out of the 5566 total prisoners in Uttarakhand, 59% (3307 prisoners) are undertrials, while only 41% (2259 prisoners) are convicts. The highest percentage of undertrial prisoners is in Roorkee Jail (94%), followed by Haldwani (82%), Nainital (81%), and Dehradun (68%).

The alarming overcrowding situation highlights the need for urgent prison reforms, including expedited trials and infrastructural expansion to accommodate the growing number of inmates.