HYDERABAD: The release of lifers who served more than seven years in jail becoming uncertain once again, Janashakti leader Kurra Rajanna today demanded inclusion of the matter in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution in order to take the issue out of the purview of courts.
Rajanna said here today that a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed in the Supreme Court by an advocate, Satish, which is likely to create hurdles in the release of lifers on remission on August 15.
The apex court would be hearing the case on August 11. ``If the court stays their release again, hundreds of lifers who are eligible to get remission will be at a loss,’’ Rajanna said. The extremist leader asked the State Government to pass a Bill in the State Assembly and ensure that it got passed in Parliament for the inclusion of release of prisoners in the Ninth Schedule of the Constitution.
``Once included in the Ninth Schedule, no one can challenge the release of prisoners and the issue would be out of the purview of the courts. If the SC once again stays the release, the government should immediately get injuction orders and release the prisoners on August 15,’’ he demanded.
The courts, however, could intervene only when governments failed to extend remission to the lifers, he said.
Political parties, whether it is the Congress or the TDP, are responsible for the issue getting entangled in court for their petty gains. “Prisoners are the ones who are made to suffer because of the legal tangles,’’ he said.
On the issue of government granting remission to those who were involved in crimes like Arms Act, blasts, conspiracy cases and even dowry harassment, Rajanna said there should not be any discrimination against the Sections of the law. ``Whether the prisoner has changed or not should be should be the criteria for granting remission,’’ he said. A committee of civil rights activists and others should be constituted to look into the aspect of release of prisoners involved in henious crime, he said, adding that the government should also ensure that the released persons are rehabilitated.