Karnataka: Over 100 convicts to be set free on December 13

Bengaluru: More than 100 convicts in Karnataka, who have completed their prison term of minimum 14 years with remission, will be set free on December 13. According to official sources, the governor has approved the release of 108 convicts, including 27 from the pending list from the various prisons in the state.

"The convicts have been selected as per the state's revised guidelines on premature release of convicts. The Prisons Department had recommended the names of 93 convicts, of which 81 have been approved by the governor. He has also approved the release of 27 convicts, who were in the pending list," an official source told this newspaper. Some women lifers, whose names were recommended for premature release, have not made it in the final list on technical grounds, including their tenure in the prison.  "This is the second batch of life convicts who will be set free prematurely this year. The government had released 144 convicts on Republic Day," he said.

According to the July 2016 guidelines, a convict (male or female), who is undergoing life imprisonment and is covered by the provisions of Section 433A of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC), shall be eligible to be considered for pre-mature release after he or she has served a sentence of 14 years of imprisonment without remission.

Male life convicts, who are not covered under Section 433A, can be considered for pre-mature release after they have served at least 14 years inclusive of remissions and 10 years without remissions. 

Female life convicts, not covered by Section 433A of CrPC and undergoing the sentence of life imprisonment can be considered for pre-mature release after serving 10 years, inclusive of remissions and seven years without remission

There is an age concession for life convicts. A male lifer of or more than 65 years of age can be considered for early release after imprisonment of 14 years with remission. A female lifer aged more than 60 years can be considered for premature release after 12 years of prison term with remission.