260 prisoners await guv's nod for release on I-Day

BENGALURU: As many as 260 prisoners across the state are keeping their fingers crossed as Independence Day approaches. The prisons department has recommended to the home department that these 260 convicts who have served more than 14 years in prison and showed good conduct be released on August 15. The home department has, in turn, sent the list to its legal cell. Following verifica tion, the list will be sent to the governor for approval. If the list gets the governor's permission, it will be the first time since 2006 that convicts will be released en masse on Independence Day or Republic Day for good conduct. In 2006, 309 prisoners got an early release. The practice ran aground after the Karnataka high court struck down a related law. Later, then governor Hans Raj Bhardwaj turned down the requests citing a case pending in the Supreme Court with regard to the Tamil Nadu government releasing Rajiv Gandhi's assassins. In 2014, the Karnataka government formulated a list of 23 guidelines to be followed when releasing convicts of certain crimes. Prisoners have greater chances of getting premature release this year, thanks to the Supreme Court vacating a stay on the release of state prisoners in the TN case, according to KV Gagandeep, principal secretary (home), who heads the advisory com mittee that makes the final recommendation to the governor. The 260 prisoners recommended for release by ADGP (Prisons) Kamal Pant have been awaiting release for the last few years. While officials are hoping that the process will be com pleted before the Independence Day , Gagandeep is not sure this would be possible."Each case has to be verified before it is sent to the governor. This requires time. For now, we have sent the list to the legal department for their opinion," he said. Who can be freed? Convicts who have served more than 14 years in prison and have a record of good conduct can be released. However, they cannot be involved in grievous crimes such as rape and murder, or be habitual offenders. TOI