Jammu, Aug. 5 -- More than 600 prisons across India were operating beyond their sanctioned capacity at the end of 2024, highlighting the persistent problem of overcrowding in the country's correctional system despite sustained efforts to modernise prison infrastructure.
According to information shared by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in the Rajya Sabha, 609 prisons were functioning beyond their authorised capacity as on December 31, 2024. Across the country, prisons with a total sanctioned capacity of 4,53,769 inmates housed 5,11,542 prisoners, reflecting an occupancy rate of nearly 113 per cent.
In Jammu and Kashmir, overcrowding remains a significant concern. Against an authorised capacity of 3,629 inmates, the Union Territory's pr...