Overcrowding has emerged as a growing challenge in Gujarat’s prison system, with the state’s jails operating well beyond their sanctioned capacity. According to data presented in Parliament by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Gujarat’s prisons housed 17,766 inmates against a sanctioned capacity of 14,108 in 2024, resulting in an excess of 3,658 prisoners.
The figures reveal that while the number of inmates has steadily increased over the past five years, prison infrastructure has expanded only marginally, leading to severe overcrowding across the state’s correctional facilities.
Gujarat Jails Exceed Sanctioned Capacity
The latest data shows that Gujarat’s prison occupancy reached nearly 126% in 2024, meaning prisons were housing significantly more inmates than they were designed to accommodate.
According to the MHA’s written reply in the Rajya Sabha, the state’s sanctioned prison capacity increased by only 346 inmates between 2020 and 2024, rising from 13,762 to 14,108.
During the same period, however, the inmate population increased by 2,549, growing from 15,217 prisoners in 2020 to 17,766 in 2024.
The widening gap between prison capacity and the number of inmates has resulted in increasing pressure on Gujarat’s correctional system.
Overcrowding Has Increased Every Year
The data shows that overcrowding in Gujarat’s prisons has steadily increased over the past five years.
In 2020, the state’s prisons housed 15,217 inmates against a sanctioned capacity of 13,762, resulting in an occupancy rate of about 111%.
The inmate population rose to 16,597 in 2021, pushing occupancy to nearly 119%, while in 2022, prisons housed 16,611 inmates with occupancy remaining around 118%.
The situation worsened further in 2023, when the inmate count reached 17,265 and occupancy climbed to nearly 123%.
By 2024, Gujarat’s prisons housed 17,766 inmates against a sanctioned capacity of 14,108, taking the occupancy level to nearly 126%, highlighting a consistent rise in overcrowding across the state’s correctional facilities.
These figures indicate that prison occupancy has remained above the sanctioned capacity every year and has continued to rise.
Prison Capacity Growth Remains Limited
Although the number of inmates has increased significantly, prison infrastructure has not kept pace.
Between 2020 and 2024, the prison population increased by more than 2,500 inmates, while the sanctioned capacity expanded by only 346 seats.
This imbalance has contributed directly to overcrowding in Gujarat’s prisons.
National Picture Also Shows Overcrowding
The Ministry of Home Affairs also informed Parliament that overcrowding is not limited to Gujarat.
As of December 31, 2024, 609 prisons across India were operating beyond their sanctioned capacity.
The ministry noted that prison administration, including the expansion of infrastructure and construction of new jails, falls under the jurisdiction of state governments, as prisons are a State subject under the Constitution.
Growing Need for Infrastructure Expansion
The latest figures highlight the increasing pressure on Gujarat’s prison system. With inmate numbers continuing to rise and prison capacity seeing only marginal growth, overcrowding has become a significant challenge.
The data presented in Parliament underscores the need for expanded prison infrastructure and better capacity planning to accommodate the growing prison population while ensuring proper management of correctional facilities.
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