Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala has said that the State government is considering a comprehensive overhaul of Kerala’s prison system.

Addressing media persons after convening his first high-level meeting with senior officials of the Prisons department in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday (June 9, 2026), Mr. Chennithala indicated that an additional central prison might be required to address the issue of crowding in the State’s prisons. He also stressed the need to increase prison staff to ensure effective prison management.

The discussion also focussed on efforts to strengthen the prison-run production units and vocational programmes. The Minister cited the department’s chapatti-manufacturing units and petrol pumps as examples of initiatives being run successfully. The revenue from such ventures was being used for prison development and surplus funds remitted to the government.

He also announced that the Home department had decided to take up revisions to both the Prison Manual and Prison Rules.

Escape of prisoners

Responding to questions regarding the inquiry into escape of prisoners during the previous Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s tenure, Mr. Chennithala said the term of the two-member committee comprising former Kerala High Court judge C.N. Ramachandran Nair and former State Police Chief Jacob Punnoose had been extended by three months.

He also said that prisoners would not be granted or allowed extended parole on political grounds. While the government would protect the legitimate rights of inmates, it would not permit unnecessary parole based on political considerations.

At the same time, deserving prisoners would not be denied legally entitled parole or leave. The Minister said that several recommendations from prison advisory committees related to ordinary leave rather than parole and emphasised that such leave was a rightful benefit available to eligible inmates.

Regarding a recommendation by the State Police Chief to retain the police force’s helicopter service, Mr. Chennithala said the Cabinet would take a final decision after due consideration.