Food in jails just got khaas once again for its inmates. Convicts, who often complain about the lack of facilities, will now be able to purchase food in jails now. The ban on sale of food items that came into effect in prisons in Maharashtra in 2008 has been revoked and from last week, and snack items, as well as non-vegetarian dishes, became available to them.

In 2008, the state government had issued a resolution imposing a ban on the sale of food in prison canteens as well as on serving non-vegetarian food, which was otherwise allowed as per the Maharashtra Prison Manual. Prison officials said that the circular has now been cancelled for all jails in the state. Sadanand Gaikwad, superintendent of Byculla Jail said, "From last weekend, we have started providing snacks like samosas, idli, sheera etc. Inmates can also pre-order non-vegetarian food and purchase from the canteen once a month."