West Bengal govt to release 63 life convicts to decongest prisons

The West Bengal government has decided to release 63 life convicts in an attempt to decongest its prisons. However, civil rights activists have raised questions on why no political prisoners are being released.

Daily Current Affairs Quiz 2021

One of the reasons for the crowding of prisons in West Bengal is that the State accounts for highest number of foreign convicts in its correctional homes.

As per Prison Statistics of India, 2019 West Bengal had reported the highest number of foreign inmates (2,316) compared to 5,608 foreign national lodged in prisons of the country.

‘Prisons/persons detained therein’ is a State subject under Entry 4 of List II of the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India.

Article 39A of the Constitution directs the State to ensure that the operation of the legal system promotes justice on a basis of equal opportunity and shall, in particular, provide free legal aid by suitable legislation or schemes or in any other way, to ensure that opportunities for securing justice are not denied to any citizen by reason of economic or other disabilities.