PANJIM: The High Court of Bombay at Goa has asked the State government if it considered framing rules for premature release of convicts on lines with the guidelines framed by the government in Maharahstra.
Advocate General Devidas Pangam said that the Bench sought to know if Goa government had any guidelines in place or considers framing guidelines for release or pre-mature release of prisoners. The matter has been adjourned as government is preparing a reply to submit to the court.
Quite a few convicts based on their good behaviour and long term of sentence have been released by the counterpart government after a rule came into force. About a decade ago, Bombay High Court had directed the Maharashtra government to frame statutory rules under the Prisons Act 1894 to release convicts prematurely after they complete 18 years of sentence.
About two years ago, the High Court of Bombay at Goa had directed the State Sentence Review Board for premature release of a convict who completed 19 years of imprisonment. Twenty one others were in the line.
