MP may introduce 10% reservation for women in open jails:Jail headquarters sends proposal to state govt

For the first time in Madhya Pradesh, women prisoners may soon get the right to live in open jails under a proposed 10% reservation policy. The state Jail Headquarters has sent a proposal to the government recommending amendments to the Open Jail Rules to make women inmates eligible for accommodation in these facilities. The move comes amid wider discussions on women’s reservation in public systems and institutions. Notably, Madhya Pradesh initiated the proposal nearly three months before the Supreme Court, in February 2026, directed all states to expand the scope of open prisons and include women inmates in the system. According to Madhya Pradesh Director General of Prisons Varun Kapoor, the proposal recommending changes in the open jail rules was sent to the state government in December 2025. Rule amendment proposed The proposal recommends removing Section 4(2)(L) of the Open Jail Rules, which currently prevents women prisoners from being considered for open jail facilities. Supreme Court gives states six months The Supreme Court has directed states to include women in open jail systems and has given them six months to implement the order. To monitor compliance, the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) has constituted a High-Power Committee to oversee the expansion of open prisons across the country and ensure inclusion of women inmates. The committee includes the Directors General of Prisons from Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra as members. Current status of open jails in Madhya Pradesh Open jails have been operational in Madhya Pradesh since 2009. At present, the state has eight open prisons with a combined capacity of 138 inmates. These facilities are located in: Madhya Pradesh currently houses nearly 42,000 prisoners, including around 1,600 women inmates. If the proposal is approved, women prisoners meeting the eligibility criteria will also be able to benefit from the open jail system. Eligibility criteria for open jails To qualify for residence in an open prison, inmates must: How open jails function Open prisons operate differently from conventional jails. Key features include: Women already included in other states Before Madhya Pradesh, states such as Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kerala and Jharkhand have already allowed women inmates to stay in open prisons. While these states may not have formal reservation policies, provisions for women prisoners already exist there. Family stay mandatory One of the conditions of living in an open jail is that inmates must stay with their families. At the time of admission, the government provides one month’s ration and a gas cylinder. After that, inmates and their families are responsible for managing their own expenses.