The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : AP to renew bid to release convicts

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Thursday, Jan 03, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

AP to renew bid to release convicts

Special Correspondent

Efforts on to release 1,000 prisoners on Republic Day
Criminals involved in heinous offences will not be considered

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh government will renew its bid to release a large number of prisoners lodged in various jails after remitting their sentence, an exercise which was stayed by the Supreme Court last year, following a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) by a Telugu Desam leader.

Home Minister K. Jana Reddy said here on Wednesday that an affidavit would be filed in the apex court shortly to get the stay vacated and pave the way for the release of about 1,000 prisoners on the occasion of Republic Day.

Stricter norms

As desired by the court, the Government would evolve strict norms for premature release of prisoners for good conduct. The guidelines would be stricter than on the previous occasions when prisoners were set free, he added. A high-power committee will identify prisoners to be released. Criminals involved in anti-national acts and heinous offences would not be considered.

Mr. Reddy said the Government had decided to release 1,500 prisoners for good conduct on the occasion of Independence Day last year which also coincided with completion of the 150 years of the First War of Independence (1857 Mutiny). The approval of the Governor was obtained for their release but the whole process was held up after the apex court sought clarifications on guidelines.

The PIL was filed by a TDP leader R. Chandrasekhar Reddy challenging the release of prisoners, including a Congress MLA’s husband Gouru Venkata Reddy who is serving sentence in a murder case. While staying the release order, the court allowed the Government to continue identifying prisoners eligible for release.

Requests

Asked whether Mr. Venkata Reddy was among those short-listed for release, the Home Minister said requests for release on humanitarian grounds were made by all parties, including the Congress, the TDP and the Left. He denied that the Government had a motive in releasing Mr. Reddy. Earlier, the Home Minister inaugurated the 47th formation day celebrations of the Anti-Corruption Bureau.

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