40 premature to mark Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary

The prisons department has released 48 inmates from various central prisons in the state who have been convicted for non-heinous crimes and have demonstrated good conduct in the prison.

Following the directions by Central government on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary on October 2, the state government released 48 inmates on Friday on good conduct.

For all these years only life convicts were released under good conduct on two occasions in a year. This is the first instance that even convicts of non-heinous crimes have been released.

15 convicts

Fifteen convicts, including a woman, were released from Bengaluru, 10 from Mysuru, three from Kalaburgi, two from Shivamogga, one from Vijayapura, seven from Ballari and 10 from Dharwad.

“As per the directions by Central government, there will be premature release of the convicts thrice this year to mark the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The first was on October 2, 2018, the second will be on April 5, 2019, on the occasion of the Dandi March, while, the third one will be on October 2, 2019,” H S Revanna, DIGP Prisons, told DH.

“This premature release applies only for non-heinous crime convicts undergoing three years to five years of imprisonment,” he added.

Good conduct

“We considered good conduct, age limit and number of years convicts spent at prisons and shortlisted the convicts for premature release,” Revanna said. As per guidelines, convicts aged 55 years and above having completed at least 50 % of the total term of imprisonment and those aged below 55 years having completed at least
66 % of the total term of imprisonment are also eligible for premature release. Revanna added that the provision is only for convicts of non-heinous crimes.