No prisoners released on Constitution Day

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Sept. 20: The government did not release any prisoners this year on Constitution Day. Although the Department of Prison Management (DoPM) submitted the list of inmates eligible for the release to the Home Ministry, no decision was made in this regard.

According to Joint Secretary and Spokesperson for the Ministry of Home Affairs Rishiram Tiwari, no prisoners were released this time as necessary preparations could not be 

completed. The Ministry did not table the proposal regarding the release or sentence reduction of listed prisoners at the committee of the Cabinet for endorsement, he said. 

Tiwari said that they might be released after the process is completed. 

Meanwhile, the Director for the Department of Prison Management, Kamal Prasad Pandey, said although the Department has recommended the name list of 492 prisoners for their release on Constitution Day, the Ministry did not take further process. 

"We did not know, why the process did not move forward from the Ministry," said Pandey.

An additional 601 prisoners whose name lists were finalised for the reduction of sentence on the occasion of Republic Day (May 28, 2024), too have not been released this year. 

As per the law, the Council of Ministers must make decisions for their release and recommend the decision to the President for authentication.  Had the decisions been made by the Cabinet, this year, 1,093 prisoners would have been released. 

After the introduction of the Criminal Offence Sentencing Act, those inmates who have served 50 per cent of their sentence and are not on the negative list will have their remaining sentences reduced.

Before the issuance of the Criminal Offence Sentencing Act, prisoners sentenced for crimes could receive a 60 per cent reduction in their sentence after serving 40 per cent of their jail term.

Those sentenced to life imprisonment or convicted in drug-related cases, rape charges, cannot be released on the occasion of Constitution Day. 

The Department had also issued public notices on different dates regarding the matter for collecting complaints from the public quarters.