Tamil Nadu minister denies bias against Muslim prisoners

Tamil Nadu’s minister of law, courts and prisons, C.V. Shanmugam, on Tuesday rejected charges of discrimination in releasing 49 Muslim prisoners who had been languishing in jail for over 15 years. He said the state government did not discriminate against prisoners on the basis of caste or religion.

“The government does not discriminate against prisoners on the basis of caste or religion. The state has spent `8.87 lakh for the medical treatment being given to I. Abuthahir in G. Kuppuswamy Naidu Memorial Hospital,” Mr Shanmugam said in response to Kadayanallur MLA K.A.M. Muhammed Abubacker who sought the release of 49 Muslim convicts who were in prison for over 14 years on humanitarian grounds, including two who are seriously ill.

While participating in the debate on the motion of thanks to the governor’s address, Mr Abubacker of IUML said that the case of 49 Muslim prisoners was not considered even when 1,405 prisoners were released prematurely in 2008. He noted that among the 49 prisoners, Abuthahir and Dindigul Meeran were suffering from chronic ailments

Mr 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.