State identifies 40 prisoners to be released on Gurpurb

Jupinderjit Singh

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 8

The state Prisons Department will release 40 prisoners on November 12 as a special remission to mark the 550th Parkash Purb of Guru Nanak.

Though the state government wanted to release 550 prisoners on that day, only 40 eligible prisoners could be identified.

Jails Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa explained that the government would release prisoners with this special remission all year beginning November 12. He said the one-year special remission would allow the release of an eligible prisoner whenever it benefits his case starting November 12 this year to Guru Nanak’s Gurpurb next year. “This way, the prisoners will be released all year,” he added.

Usually, the remission of up to six months is given.

Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh had announced on September 28 that it would release 550 prisoners by mid-November counting all those released from November 2018 to November 2019. As per officials with the Prisons Department, it will be impossible to reach the figure of 550 by that day.

The Prisons Department has explained the situation to the government in a detailed note on the subject. In the note, it had pointed out the laid down procedure for remission and asked for more relief if the government insists on releasing 550 prisoners.

Though Punjab has more than 21,000 prisoners lodged in different jails, it can only give remission to those arrested in non-heinous crimes. Convicts serving sentence for drugs smuggling, rape and gruesome murders cannot get pardon, the officials said. “No person convicted for moral turpitude will get benefit for such a release,” Randhawa said.

Convicts of Heinous crimes ineligible 

• Though Punjab has more than 21,000 prisoners lodged in different jails, it can only give remission to those arrested in non-heinous crimes.
• Convicts serving sentence for drugs smuggling, rape and gruesome murders cannot get pardon, officials said.