As many as 100 undertrial prisoners have been released from Puzhal Central Prison after they admitted to the crimes they committed before judicial officers at a Special Prison Lok Adalat held here. None of them was accused of major crimes such as murder, rape or kidnap.
‘Prisoners depressed’
A. Murugesan, Jail Superintendent, Central Prison-II, told The Hindu: “Our prison has more inmates than the authorised capacity. As many as 1,710 undertrial prisoners were lodged in Central Prison-II against the authorised capacity of 1,250 prisoners. We have taken several measures to decrease the population in the prison. Some prisoners had become depressed as they have been languishing here for long. Neither their family members nor any relative visited them to secure bail. Such prisoners were chosen and their cases were referred to respective courts. The magistrates concerned came here and held a Lok Adalat.”
220 petitions received
A. Ramesh, Officer on Special Duty, State Legal Services Authority, told The Hindu, “ As many as 220 petitions were received from prisoners and they were forwarded to the respective courts. Punishment was awarded to the accused based on the nature of offences they committed. A total of 171 cases were disposed of and 100 prisoners were released after taking into account the period of jail term they have already undergone.”
