Indian State Government Lifts Prison Smoking Ban

KOCHI, India — The approximately 7,000 prisoners in the populous Indian state of Kerala are free to light up again after government officials rescinded a recently introduced smoking ban.

Officials moved to lift the ban without explanation just months after the smoking prohibition was introduced. Authorities banned smoking throughout the overcrowded state prison system on the recommendation of the state’s Director General of Police, who administers Kerala’s prisons.

In introducing the prison-smoking ban, the director sought to bring the state prison system, which has an operational capacity of 5,500-inmates, into compliance with state legislation.