Daijiworld Media Network - Mysore (SP)

Mysore, Jan 16: The government had announced earlier, that 325 prisoners languishing in various jails in the state and having records of good conduct, would be released on the Republic Day this year, subject to certain norms decided upon by it. Home minister Dr V S Acharya, who was here on Wednesday January 14 to participate in a function, however announced that the state government has for the present, kept its decision in this connection, on hold.

Minister for prisons Umesh Katti had recently announced that the state government would be releasing 325 prisoners including some who are facing life sentence, as a goodwill measure on January 26. The home minister however, asserted that these prisoners would not walk free as expected on that day.

He cited cases filed against the government's action in releasing prisoners on days of national importance every year, by extending concessions in their prison terms, based on the good conduct of the prisoners, in both the state High Court and the Supreme Court. "These cases are yet to be decided. We can examine the possibility of releasing the prisoners only after the court verdict is out. Hence, immediate release of prisoners is out of question," he stated.

It may be recalled, that the courts have expressed their reservations on the practice followed by successive governments,  of releasing prisoners based on their good conduct, by extending concessions in prison terms. The question of the authority of the governments to affect cuts in prison terms decided by the courts is under scrutiny. Verdicts in these cases may take long. Hence, the prisoners of the state may have to wait a bit long and keep their fingers crossed, before the courts pronounce their decisions.