HC orders for timely consideration of applications of convicts

Asks State Government to direct Release Committee to meet once in two months

Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court has ordered the State Government to direct the Life Convicts Release Committee headed by the Principal Secretary, Home Department, to meet at least once in two months for timely consideration of applications of convicts.

Justice M. Nagaprasanna passed the order recently after hearing a petition filed by Omkarmurthy, a life convict housed in Central Prison, Bengaluru, for murder. Contending that he has been in prison for 16 years and 10 months and the jail authorities have issued certificates favouring his release on good conduct, the petitioner sought his premature release along with the entitlement of remission before the jail authorities.

“Till the application of the petitioner would merit consideration before the committee, he would be entitled to be released on parole, in accordance with the law, for a period that the authorities of the jail would prescribe or till such time, the committee would meet and consider the case of the petitioner,” the Court said while ordering the Government to direct the Committee to meet on or before Apr. 10, 2023 and consider the case of the petitioner and the like, whose cases are placed before it, for consideration of their cases for premature release.

The HC noted that the committee should at least meet six times a year, which would mean once in two months, as the life convicts are statutorily entitled to consideration of their premature release as per the guidelines notified by the State, without any loss of time.