The State government on Thursday scrambled to deny the politically damaging allegation that it had “brazenly” recommended the “release” of “notorious law breakers” convicted of grave crimes.
Television news channels raked up the issue by airing a Right to Information (RTI) reply from the Prisons Department which stated that jail inmates approved for “remission” included those convicted for highly sensational and emotive crimes.
The RTI reply listed CPI(M) men serving life-term for the murder of T.P. Chandrasekharan among those eligible for “cancellation of penalty.” The list also included the names of millionaire Nizam convicted of running down a security guard with his expensive car and “gang leader” Om Prakash serving time for murder. The RTI query was specific about the names of convicts.
At least three Malayalam channels aired the controversial RTI reply simultaneously in the morning and capped the “breaking news” with live political debates. Opposition leaders said on TV that they would raise the “impending release” of prisoners as an election issue.
‘Grossly misread’
Director General of Prisons R. Sreelekha told The Hindu that the RTI reply had been grossly misread. Some quarters had misinterpreted it as early release of convicts.
In fact, prisoners could earn a few days remission of their sentence if they conducted themselves properly, obeyed jail rules, and worked productively. “For instance, a convict serving a three-month term can be given a maximum remission of 15 days,” she said.
It was the prerogative of the jail superintendent concerned to make the recommendation. The Prisons Department would send it to the Home Department for further approval after a preliminary vetting. Remission of sentence should not be equated with outright release of the convict, she said.
Home Department officials said the list of those serving time for grave crimes had been struck of the list of those eligible for reduction of sentence time. They said there was no wrongdoing on the part of the Prisons Department in this regard. The list has been sent to the Governor for approval.
