108 undertrials walk out of prisons

Tirunelveli: A total of 108 undertrial prisoners involved in petty offences, from 13 prisons, including the Palayamkottai central prison in the three southern districts of Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Kanyakumari were released through a prison adalat held at the Palayamkottai central prison on Sunday. The prison adalat conducted by a team of judges headed by Tirunelveli second additional district judge (PCR court) P. Dhanabal at Palayamkottai central prison saw the participation of 165 undertrials from the Palayamkottai central prison, two district prisons, two female prisons and eight sub jails in the districts of Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi and Kanyakumari.

According to the superintendent of the Palayamkottai central prison, Kanagaraj, 230 petty cases were disposed of through the adalat and 108 prisoners permanently released. The Palayamkottai central prison superintendent added that the release of undertrials from different jails in the southern districts has no connection with the recent ruling of the Supreme Court to release undertrials in jail for half of their maximum sentence prescribed as the prison adalat was planned much before the Supreme Court's direction on September 5. The Supreme Court's direction to release undertrials is to come into operation only from October 1.

A member of the district legal service authority said the prison adalat concept existing in Tamil Nadu is aimed at bringing relief to petty offenders and their family members belonging the economically weaker sections. It is also said to help lessening the burden for prison authorities as it checks overcrowding of jails.