Bihar Govt To Free Certain Categories Of Prisoners In Commemoration Of 75th Anniversary Of Independence

According to Bihar Law Minister, a screening committee of the state home department has been tasked with reviewing prisoner records and identifying those who are qualified for the special remission.

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In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the country's independence, the Bihar government has decided to free certain types of inmates who have completed half their sentences, according to a state minister on Saturday, news agency PTI reported.

According to Bihar Law Minister Pramod Kumar, a screening committee of the state home department has been tasked with reviewing prisoner records and identifying those who are qualified for the special remission.

On Friday, a cabinet meeting presided over by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar made this decision.

The legal department presented a proposal to the state cabinet to offer exceptional remission to certain groups of inmates.

“It’s a major decision taken by the state government. Certain categories of prisoners, who have served half their jail terms, will be released as advised by the central government. The state-level screening committee of the home department has been instructed to review records of inmates and identify eligible ones languishing in different prisons in Bihar,” the minister informed PTI.

Kumar stated that the panel has received recommendations from numerous jail officials and will investigate them.

“The committee will ensure that notorious criminals, repeat offenders and those who fall in prohibited categories are not considered for the special remission,” he said.

The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has requested that all state governments and union territories provide special remissions to particular types of convicts and release them in honour of the 75th anniversary of the country's independence, known as the 'Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav.'

 

According to Kumar, the committee's suggestions would be presented to a competent body for evaluation and approval, as suggested by the Centre.

“According to the advisory issued to all states and Union Territories, women and transgender convicts above 50 years with overall good conduct, especially those not punished in the last three years and have completed half their sentence, may be released in three phases – this Independence Day (August 15), Republic Day 2023 and the next year’s I-Day,” he said.

The same criteria apply to male offenders, with the exception that their age limit has been set at 60 years or older, according to the ministry.

Others who can be pardoned under the special system include crippled convicts with 70% or greater disability, terminally sick inmates, and criminals who have served 66% of their whole sentence, he explained.

Beneficiaries of the scheme, according to the MHA advisory, also include "poor or indigent prisoners who have completed their sentence but are still in jail due to non-payment of fine imposed, and persons who committed an offence when aged 18 to 21 years and with no other criminal involvement and have completed 50% of their sentence."

Convicts' ages should be determined using their matriculation or birth certificates. In the absence of both, the age stated in the trial court's verdict may be used, according to the advice.

The remission of sentences, however, does not apply to those who have received a death sentence or had their sentence commuted to life imprisonment, or who have been convicted under laws relating to terrorist or anti-national activities, dowry deaths, the printing of counterfeit notes, rape, human trafficking, POCSO, economic offences, drug trafficking, and illegal arms trade, among other things.

(With Inputs From PTI)