Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Apr 9: Because of the chances of coronavirus infection spreading within the confines of prisons, the Supreme Court had recently passed orders to set certain classes of prisoners facing charges under the provisions of law that attracts jail terms of less than seven years and others subject to fulfilment of certain conditions.

The prisons department has made elaborate arrangements to let out a large number of prisoners on bail and parole but it is gathered that many of the prisoners have refused to go out because of the problem of health and money shortage.

A high level committee formed as per the Supreme Court guidelines for preparing list of prisoners eligible to be freed, has listed out names of inmates of jails for the purpose. But these prisoners, it is learnt, are unhappy at the decision. The committee had decided to release under-trial prisoners on bail and those ordered to undergo life term, on the basis of god conduct, as per the guidelines of the top court. The government had prepared to release 904 prisoners. Out of 904, 646 are under-trial prisoners and 258 are the ones who are undergoing life terms. The 183 who were to be released on parole are unwilling to go out, it is said. Those sentenced were to be released on parole, said director general of police of prisons department, Alok Mohan.