Goa human rights panel seeks information on prisoners

The Goa Human Rights Commission (GHRC) has sought information from jail authorities and the state government on the number of prisoners who are in the state's jail even after completing their sentences.

Taking suo motu cognizance of a case in which a prisoner sentenced for life has spent 27 years in prison, the GHRC on Thursday also asked authorities to submit before it by July 8 a status report on the prisoners who have spent long sentences, a commission official told reporters here Friday.

"Notices have been issued to the chief secretary as well as the law secretary. The effort is on to ensure that those who have completed their sentences be released from prison," the official added.

A team of GHRC officials visited the Aguada Central Jail Tuesday after food poisoning claimed the life of an inmate.

"During their rounds they met a convict who had completed 27 years in prison. Life imprisonment is only for 14 years. They also came across several prisoners who had completed 20 years in jail," the official said.