State framing guidelines for premature release of convicts: Law Minister

‘700 prisoners who had been in jail for more than 10 years will be released’

Law Minister N. Regupathy said on Sunday that the State government would complete the process of framing guidelines for releasing 700 convicts, who had served lengthy durations in prisons, within two to three weeks.

Speaking to reporters after visiting the Central Prison here to inspect the medical facilities and vocational training being given to the convicts, Mr. Regupathy said Chief Minister M. K. Stalin had announced in the State Assembly that 700 convicts, who had been serving their term in jail beyond 10 years, would be released on the occasion of birth anniversary of former Chief Minister C. N. Annadurai. “There were no hurdles in releasing them. The government is particular that no convicts, who had been involved in heinous crimes and had indulged in anti-national activities, should be released under the pretext of the goodwill gesture. Hence, the process of framing guidelines to list out the beneficiaries was going on. It would take at least 15 days to arrive at the list. The listed convicts would be set free soon,” Mr. Regupathy said.