Life convicts can now be released faster as Cabinet approves policy

According to the new policy,in the case of any convict who has a normal report from the previous five paroles,with the superintendent of jail certifying to this effect would send a report directly to Director General of Police (Jails) and give an undertaking that no adverse report from SSP or DM has been received for his five paroles.

The DGP would have to process cases of pre-mature releases within 15 days and send it to the home department,which would forward the case to the Chief Minister within 15 days.

For every proposal for pre-mature release of prisoners,the officer has to consider the behaviour of the prisoner in the last five years in jail. Other conditions are that in these five years the prisoner was not involved in any untoward incident and no complaint was received during his last parole.

However the criminals who will not be covered under the new policy are elected representatives who have committed murder during their tenure,government servants who have killed people while performing their duty,those who have committed heinous killings such as killing persons by dismembering the body,dowry killings or killing of minor girls after committing rape,raped minors,gang rape convicts and those convicted in Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention) Act 1987.

The new policy further states that the cases for premature release will only be considered if the Government is satisfied that in the event of release of the convict,there is no likelihood of the convict committing a crime or breach of peace in any way connected with the circumstances of the crime for which he was originally convicted.