BENGALURU: AIADMK leader V K Sasikala, her sister-in-law Ilavarasi and nephew Sudhakaran don’t have to serve the full four years of imprisonment. They can return to Tamil Nadu politics earlier. Plus, they won’t have to go out with empty pockets. The trio can get their jail term commuted by approximately a year if they work during their stay in prison.
Convicts get six days remission per month for good conduct in prison. Apart from this, they also get a special jail time of 20 days per year for good conduct. Sasikala, Ilavarasi and Sudhakaran will have to serve only about one-third of the 47-month term if they work to prison standards.
Sasikala was in jail for 35 days whereas Ilavarasi and Sudhakaran served 22 days each earlier. They were sentenced to four years in jail and penalty.
According to Karnataka Prison Manual, they can work in jail every day and earn money. Working every day is not compulsory for inmates sentenced to simple imprisonment, but they are not barred from doing it.
For this, they just have to submit a requisition to the prison superintendent stating they are willing to work. It will then be placed before the medical officer for approval. After approval, necessary training will be given to them. Approval is the discretion of jail superintendent.
If they impress the authorities by doing a good job with good behaviour, they will get a remission of six days per month. Accordingly, the total remission is 72 days per year. They can work from the second month of their entry into prison and stop a month before completion of their term. Excluding this, 20 days of special remission per year will be given for good conduct in prison, an official told Express.
Considering their experience and service, the jobs are classified as skilled and unskilled. Accordingly, wages will be fixed at `30, `40 and `50 a day, considering the recommendations of the instructor. The wages for men and women are equal.
“There is a provision for remission of seven days per month if the convicts are ready to do jobs related to the conservancy, cleaning, cooking and taking care of patients suffering from diseases,” said P N Jayasimha, former DIG, Prisons Department. He added that the remission will be calculated for every six months. It can be withdrawn if an inmate displays poor behaviour.