Cabinet approves Special Remission Scheme for prisoners

July 19, 2018

Union Cabinet has approved to grant Special Remission to Prisoners as part of commemoration of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi to be observed in 2019. This decision is considered as befitting commemoration and homage to father of nation and humanitarian values Mahatma Gandhi stood for.
Following five categories of prisoners will be considered for special remission

Women and Transgender convicts: 55 years of age and above and who have completed 50% of their actual sentence period.
Male convicts: 60 years of age and above and who have completed 50% of their actual sentence period.
Physically challenged/disabled convicts: They will convicts with 70% disability and more and who have completed 50% of their actual sentence period.
Terminally ill convicts.
Convicted prisoners who have completed two-third (66%) of their actual sentence period.

In pursuance of this decision, Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) will issue advice to all States and UTs asking them to process cases of eligible prisoners based on above five categories. State Governments will place recommendations of Committee before Governor for consideration and approval under Article 161 of the Constitution. After the approval, prisoners will be released three phases.
In Phase-l, prisoners will be released on 2nd October, 2018 (i.e. on birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi), in Phase-ll prisoners will be released on 10th April 2019 (anniversary of Champaran Satyagrah) and in Phase-Ill on 2nd October 2019 (birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi).
Special remission under this consideration will not be given to prisoners who have been convicted for offence for which sentence is of death or death sentence commuted to life imprisonment; cases of convicts involved in serious and heinous crimes like rape, human trafficking, dowry death and convicted under UAPA, POTA, TADA, FICN, POCSO Act, FEMA, Money Laundering, NDPS, Prevention of Corruption Act, etc.

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