India's prisons operated at 112.7 percent occupancy in 2024, with 609 jails housing more inmates than their sanctioned capacity and Delhi recording the highest occupancy rate of 194.6 percent, according to data tabled in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.
The Haryana Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognisance of increasing incidents of suicides, unnatural deaths, violence, mental health issues, overcrowding and inadequate psychological support systems in state prisons.
A Delhi court has reinstated jailed activist Umar Khalid's right to two weekly video meetings (e-mulakats) with his family, overturning a reduction to one meeting. The court noted Khalid had consistently used two e-mulakats for six years without violating prison rules, despite jail authorities arguing for a single weekly meeting under current regulations. Khalid is on trial in a 2020 northeast Delhi riots conspiracy case.
Kapil Dev expressed deep sadness for his former rival cricketer-turned-politician Imran Khan, who continues to be lodged at Rawalpindi's Adiala Jail amid concerns over his deteriorating health.
Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala announced that parole would not be granted or extended on political grounds, assuring that eligible prisoners' legitimate rights would be protected. He highlighted ongoing prison reforms aimed at improving rehabilitation, welfare measures, and administration, including plans to amend the prison manual and strengthen security.
'Whatever is happening is wrong. Why is the government sleeping? This is wrong.'
The Punjab Assembly has passed the Punjab Prisons and Correctional Services Bill, 2026, to modernise the prison system, and the Societies Registration (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2026, to enhance transparency and accountability of societies.
The Punjab Prisons and Correctional Services Bill, 2026, aims to transform prisons into centres of reform, rehabilitation, and social reintegration, focusing on inmates' human rights, transparency, and security.
Bangladesh's High Court has granted bail to Hindu rights leader Chinmoy Krishna Das in two cases, though he remains in prison due to four other pending charges, including murder and treason. His arrest in November 2024 on sedition charges had sparked protests and communal tensions, drawing concern from India and occurring amidst strained India-Bangladesh relations following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Monday's proceedings demonstrated that the legislative debate has become inseparable from the broader political crisis surrounding the NEET controversy.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has alleged that the people of Diamond Harbour have been unable to exercise their voting rights for a decade. He assured people that the scenario has now changed, and the May 21 repolling in the Falta Assembly seat will re-establish voter rights.
Former Punjab Police DSP Jaspal Singh, a life convict in the 1995 abduction and murder of human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, has been reported untraceable at the address provided in his jail records after being released on interim bail in May 2023, sparking a political controversy.
Fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi has been ordered by a UK High Court to pay Bank of India over USD 11.5 million, including accruing interest, for a personal loan guarantee related to his Dubai-incorporated firm, Firestar Diamond FZE.
Spanish footballer Rafa Mir has been sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison after being found guilty of sexual assault and assault causing injury by a court in Valencia. The verdict, which can be appealed, follows a complaint filed in September 2024 and highlights the sensitive issue of women's rights in Spanish sports.
The Supreme Court has directed all states and Union territories in India to develop a time-bound protocol for improving the functioning of open prisons, ensuring they serve as effective institutions for reformation and rehabilitation.
'Propaganda films that the BJP makes, whether it's The Kerala Story or others, are shown wherever elections occur as part of their propaganda. But real-time human rights violations... If such things don't come on a public platform, how will correction occur?'
Diljit Dosanjh's film 'Satluj', based on human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, has been made unavailable on ZEE5 in India just two days after its release, following a prolonged censorship battle.
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has formed a three-member review committee to investigate the removal of the film "Satluj" from the ZEE5 OTT platform. The film, which depicts the life of activist Jaswant Singh Khalra during Punjab's turbulent 1990s, was briefly available before being taken down, sparking criticism from political parties and Sikh bodies.
Shaji Kailas delivers familiar mass moments, but Varavu never rises above its dated revenge formula.
From Ikkis to Balan: The Boy, these are the 10 Indian films that truly deserved the loudest applause in the first half of 2026.
The Supreme Court has allowed a plea seeking the premature release of Rohit Chaturvedi, a convict in the 2003 murder case of poet Madhumita Shukla, emphasising reformation over retribution.
'Only the Dalai Lama could have kept the Tibet issue alive the way he did.'
Three former AIADMK ministers, Dr C Vijayabaskar, M R Vijayabaskar, and M S M Anandan, along with their supporters, have joined the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), prompting the DMK to label the move as 'washing machine' politics, referencing allegations of corruption against the defectors.
A riveting mother-son drama with a superb first half, Balan: The Boy loses some of its grip after an ambitious but uneven turn, notes Sreeju Sudhakaran.
The greatest pleasure of Bandar is watching Bobby Deol let go of his vanity and submit himself to Anurag Kashyap's unflinching filmmaking, notes Mayur Sanap.
The Bombay High Court has questioned the denial of furlough to prisoners convicted under special Acts, citing a potential violation of fundamental rights. The issue has been referred to a larger bench due to conflicting previous judgments.
The Bombay High Court has referred to a larger bench the question of whether the state can deny furlough to prisoners convicted under special statutes like MCOCA and POCSO, citing potential violations of fundamental rights.
A 23-year-old British Sikh man has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of a teenage student in Southampton, with the judge highlighting the racial tensions the case has ignited across the UK.
Kerala Police have arrested eight people in connection with the violent attack on Enforcement Directorate officials who raided the residence of former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The investigation is ongoing, and more individuals involved in the violence have been identified.
The NDA government has gradually nuanced its position on the issue of demographic challenge.
Kerala Police have arrested 12 people in connection with the violent attack on Enforcement Directorate officials who had searched the residence of former Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. The ED searches were linked to financial dealings between Vijayan's daughter's firm and a sand mining company.
She had been found lying at a roadside near the nursing home. They had called the ambulance and the police around midnight. She had lost a lot of blood. A few policemen had dropped in and enquired on her but then left quickly.
The European Court of Human Rights has granted fugitive diamantaire Nirav Modi anonymity, shielding his extradition case from public scrutiny. This decision comes as Modi faces potential extradition to India from the UK, where he is accused of a large-scale fraud.
Telangana Police are pursuing the extradition of a UK-based pharmacist, Ajith Kumar Mupparapu, wanted for trial in India on charges of murder related to alleged arsenic poisoning of his ex-wife's family. The case is currently being heard in a London court.
A man jailed in Dharwad, Karnataka, on POCSO charges is accused of harassing the victim through video calls from inside the prison.
With all the talent involved, Bandar does look like it's aiming for something wild and exciting, notes Mayur Sanap.
The Bombay High Court has granted bail to Sharad Kalaskar, who was convicted in the 2013 murder of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar. Kalaskar, who is also facing trial for the murder of Govind Pansare, was granted bail on a surety of Rs 50,000.
The Antwerp Court of Appeal has advised the Belgian government to approve the extradition of fugitive diamantaire Mehul Choksi to India on six of seven charges, including criminal conspiracy and fraud.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court has rejected bail for Shubham Sangra, the main accused in the 2018 rape and murder case of a minor nomad girl in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, citing the heinous nature of the crime.
The highly-anticipated Drishyam 3 teaser has dropped, promising a gripping continuation of Georgekutty's relentless battle to safeguard his family, with Mohanlal returning to face new, unseen threats.
