Under the scheme, financial support is provided to poor prisoners in paying their fine amount or securing bail.
The State government is in the process of fully implementing the Union government’s “Support to Poor Prisoners” scheme, Kerala Legal Services Authority (KELSA) recently submitted before the Kerala High Court. The State has already constituted empowered committees at the district level and an oversight committee at the State level. It is also fast-tracking the process of the appointment of Chairman of the State Jail Advisory Board, it said.
Under the scheme, financial support is provided to poor prisoners in paying their fine amount or securing bail. The benefit of the scheme will not be available to prisoners charged with serious offences such as those under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), money-laundering and drug-related offences.
When a suo motu case registered in connection with the scheme came up for hearing before the Kerala High Court, Leo Lukose, counsel for the KELSA, submitted that that empowered committees and oversight committee have been constituted, and the Deputy Inspector General of Prisons (HQ) was appointed as the nodal officer. Besides, the government had also issued a notification in terms of the Supreme Court directives in this regard. The criteria to determine the eligibility of persons for getting the benefit of the scheme has also been formulated.
redit: K. RAGESH
The State government is in the process of fully implementing the Union government’s “Support to Poor Prisoners” scheme, Kerala Legal Services Authority (KELSA) recently submitted before the Kerala High Court. The State has already constituted empowered committees at the district level and an oversight committee at the State level. It is also fast-tracking the process of the appointment of Chairman of the State Jail Advisory Board, it said.
Under the scheme, financial support is provided to poor prisoners in paying their fine amount or securing bail. The benefit of the scheme will not be available to prisoners charged with serious offences such as those under the Prevention of Corruption Act, Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), money-laundering and drug-related offences.
When a suo motu case registered in connection with the scheme came up for hearing before the Kerala High Court, Leo Lukose, counsel for the KELSA, submitted that that empowered committees and oversight committee have been constituted, and the Deputy Inspector General of Prisons (HQ) was appointed as the nodal officer. Besides, the government had also issued a notification in terms of the Supreme Court directives in this regard. The criteria to determine the eligibility of persons for getting the benefit of the scheme has also been formulated.
Chairman for the State Jail Advisory Board will be appointed soon and over 400 applications for premature release of prisoners will be expedited. The delay in considering these applications is attributed to non-functioning of the committee for want of chairman.
