Biggest Jails in India: These Are the Top 10 Largest Jails, Know Their Features

In today’s article, we’ll discuss India’s largest central jails, where notorious criminals are held. Let’s delve into the details…

Biggest Jails in India

  1. Tihar Central Jail

    • Located in Delhi, Tihar Jail is the largest correctional facility in India and the largest central jail in South Asia. Established in 1957, it sprawls across approximately 400 acres of land and houses nine central jails, capable of accommodating around 5200 inmates.
  2. Yerwada Central Jail

    • Situated in Pune district of Maharashtra, Yerwada Central Jail is one of the largest jails in India. Several notorious criminals have served their sentences here. Mahatma Gandhi, the leader of the Indian independence movement, was also imprisoned in this jail during the freedom struggle. Currently, it can house around 3600 inmates.
  3. Naini Central Jail

    • Located in Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh, Naini Central Jail is the third-largest central jail in India. Spread over approximately 237 acres of land, it has the capacity to accommodate around 3000 prisoners.
  4. Puzhal Central Jail

    • Puzhal Central Jail, situated in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, is one of the top 10 jails in the country. Established in 2006, it covers an area of about 211 acres and can house around 1250 remand prisoners and 1250 convicts. Additionally, it has facilities for 500 female inmates.
  5. Vellore Central Jail

    • Vellore Central Jail, established in 1830, is one of the oldest jails in Tamil Nadu. It sprawls across 153 acres of land, making it the largest jail in the district and the second-largest in Tamil Nadu.
  6. Rajahmundry Central Jail

    • Situated in Andhra Pradesh, Rajahmundry Central Jail covers 196 acres of land. It was initially established by the British in 1864 and later converted into a central jail in 1870. The jail can accommodate around 1500 inmates.
  7. Patiala Central Jail

    • Located in Patiala, Punjab, the Patiala Central Jail spans 110 acres of land. It has housed many high-profile criminals over the years.
  8. Parappana Agrahara Central Jail

    • Parappana Agrahara Central Jail, located in Karnataka, is one of the largest jails in the country. It covers 40 acres of land and was established in 1997. Initially designed to accommodate 2200 inmates, it currently houses more than 5000 prisoners.
  9. Alipore Central Jail

    • Alipore Central Jail, situated in West Bengal, is among the top 10 largest jails in India. It spans 40 acres and was previously known for housing political prisoners. In 2019, it was converted into a museum.
  10. Gaya Central Jail

    • Established in 1851, the Gaya Central Jail was converted into a central jail in 1922. Located in Bihar, it covers an area of 31 acres.

These jails serve various purposes and hold prisoners according to the legal processes. They include male, female, juvenile, and central jails, each catering to specific categories of inmates.