COVID-19 pandemic: SC takes suo moto cognisance of overcrowding of prisons

The Supreme Court on Monday took suo moto cognisance of overcrowding and infrastructure of prisons across the country in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic

A bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and L N Rao issued a notice to the Director General, Prison, and chief secretary of all states and union territories and sought their response by March 20 on steps taken in the wake of COVID-19

The court also asked all states and union territories to depute an officer on March 23 who could assist court in the matter.