State Governor Hamsaraj Bharadwaj who has expressed his

displeasure over the state government proposal to release 593 prisoners undergoing life

imprisonment in various jails in the state, has sought a comprehensive report from the

DGP on every under trial whose name finds a mention in the list. The Governor’s order

has only made the Department of Prisons stand on its toes.

As per rules, any such decision on the part of the government would need the approval of

the DG-IGP of prisons. But the government policy of just taking a cabinet decision, has

clearly violated the existing rules.

The government also needs to elicit the views of the people of the village or area from

where the under trial hails and submit a report and it also need to confirm that there was

no harm to the society with his release.

Meanwhile, Umesh Kathi, State Minister for Prisons has said that the government would

furnish all the details sought by the governor. He said the government would hold talks

with high level officials in this regard on August 20.

“ The government is not asking for the release of rowdies or murderers. The number

of illiterate prisoners are more in the list of the government as some of them have been

punished for no fault. We have only sought the release of 10 per cent of prisoners. It is

possible for the governor to review the list and agree to release at least 50 prisoners,”

Kathi said.

With regard to the allegations of Justice MF Saldanha that the ‘government had collected

Rs 5 lakh to Rs one crore from each prisoner whose name has been recommended for

release.” He said the government was ready to face the investigation in this regard.

Meanwhile, a reliable source has said that the government has no authority to recommend

the release of a prisoner who is sentenced for 14 years. well before his sentence period

ended.

Legal experts are of the view that the government should reconsider the proposal as there

would also arise a question of the safety of the released prisoner.

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