List of under-trial prisoners having served half of their maximum sentence or longer being compiled, says R R Patil

THANE: Maharashtra home minister R R Patil today said the state government was in the process of compiling a list of under-trial prisoners who have served half of their possible maximum sentence or longer, so that it can implement the Supreme Court's order.

The apex court last week directed that the under-trial prisoners who have already served half of the maximum sentence prescribed for their offence should be released immediately.

Patil said that accused languish in prison without trial for several reasons, such as paucity of judges, witnesses remaining absent, etc, and police are not always to blame for the delay.

The home minister was here to perform ground-breaking ceremony for the recently sanctioned police station for Kalwa.

Thane police commissioner Vijay Kamble and senior police officers were present.

Patil also said that government was planning to reorganise the Thane police commissionerate and the Thane rural police, following the creation of Palghar district.

Talking about the first hundred days of NDA government in the Centre, Patil said it had failed to show any progress on its promises of bringing back black money, curbing inflation, etc.