Government urged to release good convicts

The Kazhagam recently made a representation to the government through the Coimbatore district collector to release them in connection with the 100th birth anniversary of former Chief Minister MGR.

TPDK state general secretary Ku. Ramakrishnan said former Chief Ministers M.G. Ramachandran, M. Karunanidhi and J. Jayalalithaa have released convicts, with good conduct, on completion of seven to 10 years of imprisonment in connection with the birth anniversary of the late chief minister CN Annadurai. 

“It has been close to a decade since good conduct prisoners were released from Tamil Nadu prisons. There are at least more than 700 prisoners in the State who have served more than 10 years conviction. Close to 20 per cent of them have served more than two decades in jail and a few like the Rajiv Gandhi case suspects are in jail for 26 years,” he added. 

Stating that earlier life conviction meant 14 years imprisonment, now it is spending the rest of their life in jail as punishment. “They don’t get a chance to live life as a changed man or woman,” the Kazhagam leader felt. Ramakrishnan added that last year Karnataka and Kerala governments (among many other States) released good conduct prisoners who served seven or more years in jail. 

Recalling that MGR’s 100th birthday is to be celebrated on Tuesday, he said that it would be apt to give a new lease of life for prisoners who have left behind their old ways and want to lead life as a changed person.