Chandigarh: The Punjab government decided to accord one-time reduction of sentences to prisoners imprisoned for up to 20 years on the occasion of the Independence Day on Monday.
State Jail Minister Sohan Singh Thandal said those undergoing imprisonment for more than 10 years and up to 20 years have been granted one-time remission of sentence for a year.
Similarly, those serving a jail term of more than 7 years and up to 10 years would get remission for nine months and those who have been jailed for more than 5 years and up to 7 years would get 6 months.
In case a person has been sentenced to more than 3 years and up to 5 years in jail, he would get remission for three months. A remission for a month has been accorded to those undergoing a sentence of less than 3 years.
Thandal said only those prisoners who are confined in jails on August 15 have been granted remission.
He said in case a person has been sentenced to imprisonment for 10 years or for a period exceeding 5 years but not more than 10 years, the conduct of the person for the last five would also be taken into consideration before granting him remission.
If a person is on parole or furlough, remission would be granted only if he surrenders in the jail before the expiry of period of parole.
The minister said no remission will be granted to those convicted for a serious offences and in the cases being probed by the CBI.
Conditions imposed for granting one-time remission of sentence to prisoners, with regard to the nature of the crime committed, have been clarified in the notification issued by the state government's Department of Home (Jails) on August 12, he said.
