Chandigarh, Dec 12 (IANS): To mark the year-long celebrations of 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, the Punjab cabinet on Tuesday gave its nod to amend the Punjab Good Conduct Prisoners (Temporary Release) Act, 1962 to increase the regular parole given to the prisoners with good conduct from the existing 3 weeks to 4 weeks, and total parole from 12 weeks to 16 weeks during a calendar year.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Amarinder Singh here.

The cabinet gave its nod to the introduction of the bill in this regard in the ensuing session of the Punjab Assembly.

A spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said that this step was aimed at ensuring the welfare of prisoners with good conduct by giving them continuous parole of 16 weeks.

This initiative would also encourage other prisoners to maintain discipline in jails, he added.

The 550th birth anniversary celebrations of Guru Nanak Dev will continue till November 2019.