Maharashtra Prisons Lead National Overcrowding Crisis, Kalyan and Thane Top Charts
Data unveiled at a national conference on prison overcrowding and reforms in Mumbai has exposed alarming occupancy rates in Indian jails, with Maharashtra's Kalyan and Thane prisons setting distressing records. Kalyan District Jail operates at a staggering 406% of its sanctioned capacity, while Thane Central Jail follows closely at 381%, highlighting severe strains on prisoner welfare and infrastructure.
National Overcrowding Landscape: Delhi and Uttarakhand Follow Maharashtra
Across India, Delhi's 16 prisons lead with an average occupancy rate of 200%, followed by Uttarakhand at 183% across 11 facilities. Maharashtra ranks third nationally, with its 60 prisons averaging 155% occupancy. In contrast, Telangana reports the lowest rate at 73% across 38 jails, underscoring stark regional disparities in prison management.
The Danapur Sub-jail in Bihar tops the list of individual overcrowded prisons, housing 208 inmates against a capacity of 37, resulting in a 562% occupancy rate. Central Jail Number 4 in Delhi follows with 4,058 inmates and a 548% rate, while Delhi Central Jail Number 1 holds third place at 421% occupancy.
Maharashtra's Top 10 Overcrowded Jails: Mumbai and Pune Add to Crisis
In Maharashtra, the top 10 jails with occupancy rates exceeding 120% include Mumbai Central Prison (Arthur Road) at 366%, housing 3,663 inmates against a capacity of 999. Yerwada prison in Pune operates at 244%, with 6,719 inmates crammed into a space designed for 2,752. Collectively, these top 10 facilities in Maharashtra house 19,463 inmates, with Kalyan, Thane, Mumbai, and Pune accounting for 86% of this total at 16,817 prisoners.
Human Rights Concerns and Systemic Failures Highlighted
The consultation, organized by the India Justice Report in collaboration with Prayas, a Tata Institute of Social Sciences project, emphasized that prison overcrowding remains a persistent human rights issue within India's criminal justice system. With over half of the country's prisons operating beyond capacity, inmates face compromised access to healthcare, legal aid, rehabilitation, and dignified living conditions.
Valay Singh, co-founder of IJR, noted concerns about inadequate implementation of decongestion mechanisms like Undertrial Review Committees and the Legal Aid Defence Counsel scheme, which risks overburdening legal aid counsels. Vijay Raghavan, Professor at TISS, warned that infrastructure improvements alone are insufficient, as prison populations are projected to rise by 2030.
Call for Multi-Sectoral Solutions and Non-Custodial Alternatives
Maja Daruwala of IJR stressed that overcrowded prisons reflect systemic failures, urging practical solutions from stakeholders. Participants, including Salman Azmi of the Maharashtra State Legal Services Authority, highlighted civil society's crucial role in reform efforts. Discussions focused on non-custodial alternatives, premature release initiatives, and strengthening legal aid through prison clinics and institutions.
The data underscores an urgent need for coordinated action to address overcrowding, safeguard inmate rights, and reform India's prison systems for sustainable justice outcomes.
