Bhopal: Amid debate over the release of Bilkis Bano case convicts, the Madhya Pradesh government’s proposed new policy provides for a life sentence till death for those held guilty of offenses like gang rape and terrorist acts. Convicts in such cases will not be released after the completion of 14 years in jail which is the minimum term of a life sentence.
The release from Godhra prison of 11 persons who were convicted for the gang-rape of Bilkis Bano and murder of several members of her family during the 2002 Gujarat riots caused widespread outrage last month. But the convicts’ lawyers had claimed that the release complied with the 1992 policy which allowed such concession in Gujarat.
“Under the proposed new policy-2022, those serving a life sentence for crimes like rape of a minor, gangrape, terrorist activities, making hooch, foreign currency-related crimes, and murder of two or more persons will have to remain in prison till their last breath,” a senior official said on Friday. The proposed policy was reviewed by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan at a meeting with home minister Narottam Mishra, chief secretary Iqbal Singh Bains, and additional chief secretary (home) Dr. Rajesh Rajora on Thursday evening, a senior official said on Friday.
Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that prisoners who get the benefit of premature release due to good behavior or conduct belong to a different category, and terrorists and rapists are completely different categories of criminals. No rapist should get the benefit of premature release, he said.
At present, a policy framed in 2012, lays down the rules for the remission of a life sentence in Madhya Pradesh. More than 12,000 life convicts are lodged in the state’s 131 jails. The proposed policy also provides for a life sentence without remission for those convicted for the murder of a government servant when he or she is performing duty.
