Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Chandigarh, Punjab Director General of Police Sumedh Singh Saini today made it clear that there was no prisoner in the jails in the state who had completed his sentence and was yet to be released. There was only one prisoner in Punjab in Nabha jail who was part of the list whose release was being demanded by Bhai Gurbaksh Singh Khalsa but there was a restraint from the Supreme Court. He said the state government had decided to approach the Supreme Court for early decision on the pre-mature releases.
Addressing a news conference here, the DGP said life imprisonment meant that the convict would have to spend entire biological life in jail. However, different states had their policies for pre-mature release of the life convicts. He defined the three categories under which a prisoner could be considered for pre-mature release in Punjab. This also depended upon the gravity of the offence. The first category included those who have physically spent ten years in jail and have undergone a sentence of 14 years with remission. The second category was of those who had physically spent 12 years in jail and undergone sentence of 18 years with remission. Then there were those who had spent 14 years in jail and had undergone 20 years sentence with remission.
He said the pre-mature release was a concession given by the competent authority and was not a matter of right.
He referred to the Supreme Court order of July last on the pre-mature release. He said the state government was not competent to release any prisoner. It was for this reason that the state government had decided to move the Supreme Court.
It may be mentioned that Bhai Khalsa is on fast for the second time demanding release of at least seven convicts. Earlier he gave up his fast in December, 2013 on the assurance given by Akali Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh. However, the issue kept on hanging and then came the Supreme Court directive restraining pre-mature release. The issue is with the Constitution Bench.
