From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru

Bengaluru, Aug 31: A fortnight after the country’s 69th Independence Day, the State Cabinet has decided to release as many as 253 prisoners in Karnataka.

Though the State Cabinet took the decision in Bengaluru on Monday, the date of release is yet to be decided.

The State Cabinet has taken a decision on Monday to release 253 prisoners, including 2 women, who have completed 14 years of imprisonment and showing good conduct.

The decision was taken following the Supreme verdict restoring the State governments’ discretion to grant liberty to life convicts.

Out of 253 prisoners, 64 had completed 14 years of imprisonment and rest had completed 14 years of prison life with remission, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra told reporters.

However, the decision to release prisoners is subject to constitutional powers of the Governor under Articles 161.

Karnataka’s Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala has to give his assent to the list of prisoners to be released by the government.

The State Cabinet has also decided to constitute three anti-naxal squads on State’s borders of Kerala and Tamil Nadu to check naxal menace.

The Cabinet also resolved to withdraw the cases registered against NSUI activists in Devaraj Urs and Laxmipura Police stations in Mysuru in 2006 and 2009.

Cases registered against 40 people, including forest department employees, who staged protest after the death of Assistant Conservator of Forests (ACF) MadanNayak in Dandeli and indulged in minor violence would also be withdrawn, as per the State Cabinet’s decision.