Badal orders release of jail inmates who have completed term

Amritsar, May 6 (UNI) The Punjab government has directed the state Home Department to release all jail inmates who had completed their jails terms or are likely to complete their terms within the next six months.

These instructions were given by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal after his visit to the Central Jail here today.

The Chief Minister directed the DIG Jails and Amritsar SSP Kanwar Vijay Partap Singh to submit a detailed proposal on jails reforms for the welfare of inmates. He also asked his Principal Secretary D S Guru to call the Home Secretary tomorrow along with the status report of all pending release cases.

Mr Badal pointed out that the inmates should not be unnecessarily put to hardship due to an ordinate delay for their release on the part of jail authorities.

Referring to the jails reforms to be undertaken in the state, Mr Badal said that all the jails would be constructed on modern lines and having basic civic amenities.

He also announced to construct a community hall at Amritsar Central Jail at an approximate cost of Rs 25 to 30 lakh. This hall would be equipped with the latest facilities to enable the near and dears of inmates to meet their relatives in a congenial atmosphere.

He lauded the initiatives taken by the local jail authorities for piloting unique projects like the establihsment of a study centre affiliated to the Guru Nanak Dev University. He also appreciated the Vocational and Training Centre and drug de-addiction centre for the welfare and rehabilitation of the inmates.

Local MP Navjot Singh gave a grant of Rs five lakh for the community hall.

Responding to the demands put forth by the women inmates, Mr Badal promised to provide medical facilities to them and asked the jail superintendent to engage the services of a lady doctor from the Health Department in consultation with the Civil Surgeon. He also inspected the kitchen and pantry along with the vocational training centre set up by the Social Welfare Department under the border area development project.

UNI