The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi has today given its approval to grant Special Remission to Prisoners as part of Commemoration of 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
The Union Cabinet has approved a remission scheme for certain categories of prisoners, including women, transgenders and physically disabled, under which they will be set free on satisfying the given criteria. The remission is part ofcommemoration of 150th Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi yesterday. The scheme will cover those women and transgenders who have crossed the age of 55 years, and men over 60 years of age, given they have served 50 per cent of their total sentence. Prisoners with over 70 per cent disability and who have served 50 per cent of their sentence will also be covered under the scheme — irrespective of their age. Terminally ill prisoners will also be considered under the scheme. The scheme is, however, conditional and those convicted of murder, acts of terrorism, kidnapping for ransom, rape, dowry death and human trafficking will not be covered.
The prisoners will be released in three phases, starting 2nd October this year.
