JOIN USSpeaking to reporters here on Thursday, the Governor, who took part in Librarians’ Day celebrations, said the days of releasing prisoners before they complete their sentence were past. Hence the proposal sent by the government to release 593 prisoners serving life sentence has been returned for the third time.
He said in 2007 the High Court objected to release of prisoners. Former Governor T N Chaturvedi had also rejected the proposal. There is no binding rule that prisoners should be released on Independence Day. The convicts too have not been showing any signs of remorse, he said.
In Belgaum, Prisons and Horticulture Minister Umesh Katti said that he would meet the Governor on Friday and request him to approve the release of convicts with good conduct.
Katti told reporters here on Thursday that he has requested the convicts who are on a hunger strike, demanding their release, to withdraw their strike promising to to make efforts for their release.
List of convicts that was sent to the Governor for release had been approved twice by the cabinet.
Katti said he would request the Governor to accord sanction for the release of convicts for good conduct on compassionate grounds.