Outlet for Tihar Jail products opens at high court

NEW DELHI - Delhi High Court Friday got a unique outlet selling “TJ” products ranging from biscuits to cotton shirts and hand-made decorative items - all made by inmates of the Tihar jail.

The outlet will be run by Jaspal Singh, who was in the jail himself for over an year while undergoing trial.

Inaugurating the outlet, Acting Chief Justice Madan B. Lokur said: “It is a very good initiative as these products will reach a larger section of people. With the opening of more outlets, more inmates will be given jobs.” This will help them in rehabilitation, he added.

The initiative, starting as three outlets in the jail premises itself, is now going outside it.

“We have a total number of six outlets and will be opening five more at all the Delhi district courts in two months’ time,” said Rajesh Goyal, superintendent at the jail no.2 where the factory is set up.

Tihar authorities plan to open outlets at all court complexes - Patiala House, Tis Hazari, Dwarka, Karkardooma and Rohini courts.

“We have everything in-house, the products are even packed at the jail by the inmates. Predominantly, it is the convicts who do most of the work but even undertrials are allowed,” said Goyal.

Another official said the move to open these outlets at courts is because a large number of litigants, lawyers, judges, court staff and police personnel visit them every day.

“The motive is to promote products at complexes that have been visited by the inmates,” the official added.