Kohima, August 14 (MExN): To mark the 80th Independence Day, the Government of Nagaland has granted remission of sentences to 29 eligible convicted prisoners lodged in various jails across the state and outside. The remission, effective from August 15, 2026, was ordered by Governor of Nagaland under Article 161 of the Constitution of India, following a proposal from the Director General of Prisons.
According to a DIPR report, the remission is part of a broader order issued by the Home Department, which prescribes a graded scale based on sentence length: prisoners serving 10 years or more receive 30 days’ remission; those with 5–10 years get 20 days; 1–5 years get 10 days; and sentences of up to 1 year earn 5 days’ remission. However, the benefit is subject to strict exclusions and conditions.
According to the order, remission is not admissible to prisoners convicted under the Foreigners Act, Passport Act, Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, Official Secrets Act (Sections 3–10), and the Criminal Amendment Act (Sections 2–3). Also excluded are those convicted under IPC Sections 121–130, CrPC Sections 107 and 109, the Prevention of Corruption Act, and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. Prisoners convicted of rape, attempted rape, or assault against women are also ineligible.
“The remission shall not apply to prisoners whose sentence was inflicted for offences against Section 473 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), 2023, or any law where the executive powers of the Central Government extend,” the Home Department order stated. Additionally, foreign nationals, irrespective of the Act under which they were convicted, and prisoners found violating jail discipline, including those involved in intimidation, assault, or smuggling contraband are barred from the benefit.
Among the jails, Central Jail, Dimapur recorded the highest number of beneficiaries with 9 prisoners, followed by District Jail, Mon (6), District Jail, Mokokchung (5), and District Jail, Kohima (3). District Jails in Longleng and Phek had 2 each, while Tuensang and Wokha had 1 each. No prisoners were found eligible from District Jails in Dimapur, Kiphire, Peren and Zunheboto.
