As many as 200 cases related to petty offences by Tihar inmates were disposed off last year by special courts organised inside the jail complex.

Started a decade ago, 5,200 Tihar inmates have benefited from these courts till date. There are nearly 12,000 inmates in all nine jails of Tihar at present.

The inmate count has fallen, conviction rates have risen and pendency of cases in the courts has shown a declining trend after these courts were organised inside the jail, said Tihar prisons spokesperson Sunil Gupta, adding 200 cases alone were disposed off in 2011.

"A total of 130 courts have been organised in the past 10 years. Held every third Saturday, the court is chaired by the magistrate of a district court. Inmates held for petty offences that can lead to nearly three years of imprisonment are put forth in this court," he said, "moreover, they are given a chance to be heard in the court provided they confess their crime within two months of imprisonment."

A plea bargaining court too was functional inside the jail premises and helped in early disposal of criminal cases that could lead to seven years of imprisonment of an inmate.

These courts are no more functional.

"The brain child behind such courts is former chief justice A S Anand. The court, the jail and the police are happy because of these special courts. Even inmates have benefited else they would be languishing inside the jails." he said.