92 life convicts cleared for special remission in Telangana

Telangana government has approved special remission for 92 life convict prisoners following directions issued by the Supreme Court of India regarding premature release policies and timelines for prisoners.

The approved list includes 92 life convicts, comprising 86 male prisoners and six female prisoners, found eligible for consideration of special remission under the guidelines.

According to the Telangana Prisons Department, the decision follows the Supreme Court’s February 18, 2025 order in the Sonadhar versus State of Chhattisgarh case, in which States were directed to frame permanent policies and timelines for granting special remission to eligible prisoners.

In compliance with the directions, Telangana government issued permanent guidelines through G.O. Ms No.126 of the Home (Services-V) Department on October 27, 2025, fixing February 1, June 1 and October 1 every year as cut-off dates for considering remission proposals.

Officials said the Telangana Prisons Department identified eligible life convicts as on February 1, 2026, and submitted the list to the government after scrutiny under the prescribed process.

The list was initially prepared by jail superintendents and later verified by an internal committee comprising Inspector Generals and Deputy Inspector Generals of Prisons. It was subsequently reviewed by a standing committee consisting of the Special Chief Secretary to Home, Secretary of the Law Department and Director General of Prisons before being sent for approval.

After receiving approval from the Chief Minister and the State Cabinet, the proposal was forwarded to Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla.

Mr Shukla convened a meeting on Monday to discuss the proposal for grant of special remission to life convicts. Director General of Prisons and Correctional Services Soumya Mishra and Inspector General of Prisons N. Murali Babu attended the meeting on behalf of the Prisons department.

The department noted that the present government had earlier issued G.O. Ms No.37 on July 2, 2024, granting special remission to 213 convict prisoners, including 178 men and 35 women, who were subsequently released.

Officials stated that regular release of eligible prisoners based on conduct and behaviour would help reduce overcrowding in prisons while aligning with the principles laid down by the Supreme Court.