Andhra Pradesh: Premature Release of Prisoners

The recent release of over 1,000 prisoners in Andhra Pradesh, including those serving life sentences, has generated considerable controversy as well as allegations of political favouritism. The premature release of prisoners has been subject to political and bureaucratic influences, and corruption irrespective of the party in power, although a prisoners' movement has reduced to some extent the arbitrariness of the procedure. The present controversy may well give the government an opportunity to roll back some of the results of the struggles by prisoners.