1,855 prisoners’ release hangs fire, thanks to Raj Bhavan
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai: 20.05.2018
The release of 1,855 prisoners from Tamil Nadu’s prisons, as promised by chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, is hanging fire after governor Banwarilal Purohit asked for separate processing of papers of the prisoners.
Following a government order early this year, the chief minister announced that prisoners who have completed 10 years of imprisonment by February 28 would be given premature release. Officials at the secretariat confirmed that the governor’ office wanted the papers of remission to be processed separately for the 1,855 prisoners.
“This is a herculean task, something which the Raj Bhavan never insisted on in the past,” said an official, pointing out the one-strike release of 1,405 prisoners during the DMK rule in 2008. An intelligence official said the reason could be that the Centre wants to scrutinise the political background of the crimes the prisoners were convicted for. “In case of murders, the political background of the victim may matter,” said the officer. Jail officials said many prisoners were upbeat after the announcement, but have now started asking if there was a problem. “Many had packed and were waiting to meet their families,” said an official. If the Raj Bhavan decides to vet the list, some may be disappointed.
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai: 20.05.2018
The release of 1,855 prisoners from Tamil Nadu’s prisons, as promised by chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, is hanging fire after governor Banwarilal Purohit asked for separate processing of papers of the prisoners.
Following a government order early this year, the chief minister announced that prisoners who have completed 10 years of imprisonment by February 28 would be given premature release. Officials at the secretariat confirmed that the governor’ office wanted the papers of remission to be processed separately for the 1,855 prisoners.
“This is a herculean task, something which the Raj Bhavan never insisted on in the past,” said an official, pointing out the one-strike release of 1,405 prisoners during the DMK rule in 2008. An intelligence official said the reason could be that the Centre wants to scrutinise the political background of the crimes the prisoners were convicted for. “In case of murders, the political background of the victim may matter,” said the officer. Jail officials said many prisoners were upbeat after the announcement, but have now started asking if there was a problem. “Many had packed and were waiting to meet their families,” said an official. If the Raj Bhavan decides to vet the list, some may be disappointed.
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