Question : FEMALE INMATES OF TIHAR JAIL

(a) the capacity of female prison cell in Tihar Jail, Delhi alongwith the number of female prisoners therein at present;

(b) whether it is a fact that majority of female detenues are undertrial who languish in jail for offences for which sentences would have been far less had they been convicted;

(c) if so, the number of such detenues;

(d) the number of Special Courts held in Tihar Jail during the last three years for expeditious disposal of cases of women under trials; and

(e) the number of out of them have since been released ?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (CH. VIDYASAGAR RAO)

(a): 497 Women Prisoners were lodged in the women jail i.e. , Central Jail No.6A, Tihar as on 20th November, 2001 as against its capacity of 400 prisoners.

(b) & (c): Though majority of female detenues are undertrials, none of them have served sentence for a period which is more than the term they are liable to serve if convicted.

(d): 16 Special Courts have been organised for the prisoners including Women Prisoners, since the first such Court was organised on 13th May, 2000 in the Tihar Court Complex.

(e): Ten female prisoners have been released by the Special Courts so far.