GUWAHATI, Oct 21 - Of the nearly 245 life convicts awaiting release orders, the State Level Committee on Remission (SLCR) has finally recommended release of seven of them in the first phase.
The SLCR, which is headed by Additional Chief Secretary TY Das, after its first sitting at Dispur last week, has sent the list of seven names to the Chief Minister, who is also in-charge of the Home Department, for the latter�s nod.
The State government had refrained from recommending release of any life convict since 2012 after the Supreme Court order put an embargo on such releases, although later the apex court restored the State government�s discretion with some riders.
Sources at Dispur told this reporter that the first batch of life convicts should be out in the open by a fortnight�s time, which will be a major relief to the convicts as well as their family members, who till recently, appeared clueless.
When contacted, Home Commissioner LS Changsan confirmed the development and told this reporter that the committee took up nine cases in its first meeting, of which seven were recommended for release.
�This is an ongoing process and the committee members will meet frequently to facilitate release of the other convicts. As and when the requisite documents are submitted, we would examine and act on them. The process of release would continue in a phased manner within a short time,� Changsan assured.
Majority of these life convicts are from the Central Jails in Guwahati, Nagaon, Tezpur, Jorhat, Dibrugarh and Silchar. Some of these convicts have even spent nearly 20 years and awaiting release since the last four years.
Reports of the District Magistrate, Prisons Department, respective Superintendents of Police, convicting/confirming court, Superintendents of the respective jails have already been examined.
Sources, meanwhile, pointed out that aspects like terminal illness, period of stay and conduct were discussed at length before recommending the names.
�This was the maiden sitting and it will take a few more such sittings to pave the way for the release of others in the waiting,� sources added.
