Tihar Prisons began with the opening of the Central Jail in 1958. Over time, the prison expanded to accommodate more inmates due to growing population and increased demand for prison space. It now includes nine central jails and a district jail at Rohini, making it the largest prison complex in Asia. Initially, the jail was designed to accommodate 1,273 prisoners.
As of recent reports, the complex houses 15,468 prisoners, which is significantly higher than its sanctioned capacity of 10,026 prisoners. This has led to overcrowding, a common issue faced by many prisons across India and globally. Overcrowding leads to challenges like insufficient space, inadequate facilities, and difficulties in managing the welfare of inmates.
Despite this, Tihar Prisons continues to operate as a central institution for detention, rehabilitation, and reform. Tihar is known for its large number of inmates and also runs various rehabilitation programs aimed at improving prisoners’ lives. It offers vocational training, educational opportunities, and other programs to assist in the reintegration of prisoners into society after their release.
Over the years, Tihar has housed several high-profile inmates, including politicians, business leaders, and others involved in various criminal cases. Its reputation as a high-security prison makes it one of the most recognized facilities in India. Despite overcrowding, Tihar has pioneered several prison reform initiatives in India, including spiritual programs, meditation, art therapy, and vocational training.
The prison runs self-help groups, industrial training, and other initiatives to help inmates acquire life skills for reintegration into society. Tihar Prisons is the largest prison complex in Asia and continues to function as a major facility for incarceration, rehabilitation, and reform.
However, the issue of overcrowding remains a concern, with the number of inmates exceeding its sanctioned capacity, highlighting the ongoing need for reforms in the criminal justice system.
