Commuting sentence of prisoners

Prisons are primarily for reforming and giving enough space to a guilty and sentenced person to go in for remorse and decide to change oneself for the better and get fully reformed to live a life of law abiding person after completing the term of the sentence. It is equally important that while undergoing imprisonment , demonstration of utmost discipline and good behaviour was given by a prisoner during the entire tenure. Good behaviour makes a “good” prisoner eligible for commuting some part of the left prison term. Besides, there are some special national festivals and historic occasions when the Government decides and releases lot many prisoners who have some portion yet to serve like under the ongoing Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav. Under a part of the Mahatsav , the Government wants to commute sentence of some prisoners in a phased manner.
Therefore, those above the age of 60 and the ones physically challenged convicts having already served more than half of the jail term will fall in the first category for commuting of the sentence. Women in large numbers above 50 and transgender convicts too would be released. In the UT of Jammu and Kashmir, therefore, the exercise shall shortly start in identifying the eligible prisoners and compartmentalising them scheme wise so as to give practical shape to the matter starting from August 15 this year.