Modi govt to release undertrials who have served half their maximum terms

In a move that is being hailed as the Modi government's first step towards judicial reforms, the Union Government has started work on a system where undertrials, who have served at least half of their what their sentences would have been, will be released from prison. However, according to reports, prisoners serving life terms or slapped with death penalty will not come under the ambit of this new programme.[caption id="attachment_1685367" align="alignleft" width="380"] Representational image. Reuters[/caption]According to a report on The Indian Express, at Minister Ravishankar Prasad said on Sunday said that the NDA government is developing a database software, where all details of prisoners will be uploaded, including the dates of their arrival.The pilot system is being tested in Tihar Jail.“Over 66 per cent of prisoners are undertrials and there are several others who are overstaying their sentence. Their ratio is more than that of the actual convicts. It is not only a human rights issue but also a matter of great concern for the judiciary. Laws will be appropriately amended and the service of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) will be used to uphold the criminal justice system,” Prasad told Indian Express.According to a count by Times Of India, out of the 3.81 lakh prisoners across the country, around 2.54 lakh, or two-third, are undertrials. Many of the undertrials exceed the prison time that they would have been awarded, had they been on a trial and been convicted.If the system proves to be a success the correctional homes in India will also be significantly de-congested.