New Delhi, October 11, 2018: In the first phase more than 900 prisoners lodged at different jails across the country were granted remission of sentence on the occasion of commemoration of 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
In the week long first phase of special remission to prisoners, the States and UTs, after obtaining the approval of the competent authorities in their jurisdictions, released over 900 prisoners. In the second and third phase, prisoners will be released on April 6, 2019 and October 2, 2019, (Gandhi Jayanti), respectively.
The States and UTs have been advised to hold weeklong special functions in all prison premises based on the teachings of Mahatma Gandhi before the dates specified for release of prisoners. The prisoners will be taken near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi where they will garland the same. While releasing the prisoners, they will also be gifted with books relating to Mahatma and will also be provided suitable counselling.
As part of commemoration of the 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 18 decided that special remission to specific category of prisoners may be given and they may be released from prisons in three phases between October 2, 2018 (Gandhi Jayanti) and the next year Gandhi Jayanti.
However, special remission facility is not available to prisoners convicted for an offence for which the sentence awarded is death or where death sentence has been commuted to life imprisonment. Cases of convicts involved in serious and heinous crimes like dowry death, rape, human trafficking and convicted under POTA, UAPA, TADA, FICN, POCSO Act, Money Laundering, FEMA, NDPS, Prevention of Corruption Act will not be eligible for remission.
Women, transgender convicts of 55 years of age and above, male convicts of 60 years of age and above, physically challenged/disabled convicts with 70 per cent disability completing more than 50 per cent of their actual sentence periods are eligible for release from prison.
Terminally ill convicts and those prisoners who have completed two-third (66 per cent) of their actual sentence period are also eligible for special remission.
