The Union Home Ministry is conducting a study to find out ways to minimise overcrowding in more than 1,000 prisons across the country.

According to statistics in the latest report of the National Crime Records Bureau, nearly four lakh prisoners are lodged in 1,374 prisons across the countries which have the capacity to keep only three lakh inmates.

Sources in the Ministry said the study will be conducted by the Bureau of Police Research and Development to identify administrative and legal measures to tackle the problem and to suggest steps needed to be taken.

Asia's largest prison Tihar Jail at present houses inmates almost double its capacity. In a space meant for 6,500 prisoners, over 12,500 inmates are presently kept there. According to Tihar jail officials they have organised 127 special courts in its premises in order to dispose of cases at a faster rate.