All prisoners are equal in TN govt's eyes: Minister

Tamil Nadu government today said all prisoners were equal for it and the state was providing medical treatment to a Muslim convict with a chronic ailment.
"All prisoners are equal for the government. Medical treatment is being given for I Abuthahir in G Kuppuswamy Naidu Memorial Hospital," Prisons Minister C Ve Shanmugam said intervening IUML member K A M Muhammed Abubacker, who sought release of 49 Muslim prisoners, including Abuthahir, imprisoned for more than 15 years in the state.
Prisoners were equal for the government irrespective of caste or religion, he said.
Abuthahir was convicted in the Coimbatore serial blast case and also sentenced to life imprisonment in the sensational murder of Assistant Jailor of Central Prison (Madurai) Jayaprakash.

Madras High Court had directed medical treatment for Abuthahir in a private hospital based on a petition in 2013.
Abubacker, participating in the debate on the motion of thanks to the governor's address, said 49 Muslim prisoners were languishing in prisons for over 15 years and appealed for their premature release.

Among them were Abuthahir and Dindigul Meeran with chronic ailments, he said.
Shanmugam said a case was pending in the Madras High Court over the premature release of over 1,400 prisoners by the state government in 2008. The court had said the release of prisoners was subject to the final order in the matter.

He also said incarceration for a period of 14 years does not entitle prisoners to premature release. However, the state government may consider premature release after looking into aspects like recommendation of an advisory board constituted in this regard.
Speaking to reporters later, Abubacker said prisoners could be considered for premature release by the state on grounds like health, good conduct and completion of 14 years in prison.