Delhi News: Tihar Semi-Open Facility Partially Shut After PWD Inspection; Inmates Sent To Mandoli

A major portion of the semi-open jail facility at Tihar, the country’s largest and most overcrowded prison complex, has deteriorated to the point that inmates are unwilling to live there due to safety concerns. Following an inspection, the Public Works Department (PWD) confirmed that, with a few exceptions, the building is in poor condition, and only a small section remains fit for habitation.

In response, the jail administration has decided to temporarily shift inmates selected for the semi-open facility to Jail No. 14 in Mandoli until repairs are completed. Inmates currently residing in Tihar’s open jail will be accommodated in the habitable portion of the semi-open building, while the remaining inmates will be moved to Mandoli.

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Officials have directed the Superintendent of Jail No. 14 to immediately arrange accommodation, salaries, transport, and healthcare for the incoming inmates. Prisoners have also been instructed to submit all required records, including conviction files, medical documents, sentence records, PP accounts, and smart card balances.

The administration has clarified that full operations at the Tihar semi-open and open jails will resume once structural repairs are completed, with inmate safety and rights being treated as the top priority.

Approved Capacity of Semi-Open and Open Jails

-Tihar Semi-Open Jail (Male): 46

-Tihar Semi-Open Jail (Female): 10

-Mandoli Semi-Open Jail (Male): 25

-Tihar Open Jail (Male): 10

-Total Capacity: 91 inmates

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What Are Semi-Open and Open Jails?

Tihar Jail in Delhi, one of India’s largest prison complexes, follows restorative justice principles that focus on rehabilitation. Semi-open and open jails are special facilities designated for well-behaved convicted inmates.

Semi-open jails allow selected inmates to step out of their barracks during the day to work within the prison premises, such as in gardening, construction, or factory labour, and return in the evening. They have access to basic amenities, including a television and a kitchen.

Open jails, however, allow inmates to work outside prison premises and return in the evening at a fixed time. They also have the freedom to meet their families and undergo training for independent living. Only inmates who have spent a minimum of two years in a semi-open jail are eligible for open jail placement.