Madhya Pradesh Proposes 10% Women Reservation in Open Jails for the First Time

In a major reform initiative, Madhya Pradesh has proposed allowing women inmates to be included in open jail facilities with a 10% reservation for the first time. The proposal has been sent by the state jail headquarters to the government.

The initiative comes ahead of a Supreme Court directive issued in February 2026, which instructed states to expand open jail systems and include women inmates. The Madhya Pradesh Director General of Prisons, Varun Kapoor, submitted the proposal in December 2025, recommending amendments to existing open jail rules.

Currently, Madhya Pradesh operates 8 open jails with a total capacity of 138 inmates, located in Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur, Narsinghpur, Narmadapuram, Satna, Ujjain, and Sagar. The state has around 42,000 prisoners, including nearly 1,600 women.

To qualify for open jail placement, inmates must have good conduct, be physically and mentally fit, and demonstrate the ability to earn a livelihood. Lifers must have completed at least 14 years in prison, while other long-term prisoners must have served two-thirds of their sentence.

A High-Powered Committee formed by the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) will monitor compliance with Supreme Court directions regarding expansion of open jails and inclusion of women inmates.

Open jails are correctional facilities with minimal security where inmates can work during the day and return in the evening. The system focuses on rehabilitation and social reintegration of well-behaved prisoners.

Similar systems already exist in states like Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Kerala, and Jharkhand, where women inmates have also been accommodated under such arrangements.

Inmates are required to live with their families in open jails, and initial support such as one month ration and a gas cylinder is provided by the government, after which they manage their own expenses.