Paundrik added that the proposal to set up an open jail has received in principal approval from the state government

A few months ago, a detailed project report about the state's first open jail was submitted to the Home Department.

A two-member team, comprising the superintendents of Phulwarisharif and Buxar central jails, was sent to Jaipur to study the functioning of open prisons in Rajasthan. The DPR was drawn up on the basis of their report.

Paundrik said that the proposal recommended that only prisoners who have already undergone 50 per cent of their sentence would be lodged in the open jail. These prisoners will be able to stay with their families and take up any job within a radius of 5 km of the jail premises.

However, the inmates will be required to report their attendance twice daily. At present, there are 26 open jails across the country.