New Delhi (Agency): Independence Day, a celebratory occasion for India, witnessed a disagreement between West Bengal’s Raj Bhavan and the state government. This dispute revolved around the release of certain prisoners, a tradition on this special day.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her disappointment over the failure to release prisoners this year. She claimed the obstacle arose due to the Governor’s House not approving the list provided by the state secretariat. “The release of prisoners this year on the occasion of the Independence Day was not possible since the Governor’s House did not clear the list forwarded by the state secretariat,” Banerjee stated.
In response, the Governor’s House presented a different perspective. They revealed that the delay resulted from the state government’s inability to provide clarifications on specific matters. According to the Governor’s House, they had requested seven clarifications from the state government, which remained unanswered.
Highlighting their concerns, Raj Bhavan specified that among the 87 prisoners proposed for release, 16 were not Indian citizens. This raised questions. “Why are prisoners of foreign-origin included?” seemed to be the central concern of the Governor’s House. They asked the state government to explain their reasoning for proposing the release of such foreign prisoners.
To address the situation, the Governor’s House invited the state home secretary and the director general (prison) for a discussion at Raj Bhavan. However, the invitees did not attend the meeting, causing further uncertainties.
On the other hand, the state government’s stance remained steadfast. They emphasized the adherence to a specific protocol when selecting prisoners for release. This protocol involves multiple stages of review:
1. The state correctional services department first suggests prisoners based on their behavior in the correctional homes.
2. After this, other state departments such as home affairs, law, and judicial review the suggestions.
3. Once these departments agree, the final list is then sent to the Governor for final approval.
According to the state government, this protocol was correctly followed this year. A senior official from the state correctional services department remarked, “This time the same protocol was followed and the list has been returned. I do not remember such an event over the issue in the past.”
The dispute between the state government and the Raj Bhavan over the release of prisoners has taken center stage this Independence Day. While the traditions associated with this national holiday are significant, so too are the protocols and policies that govern them. As India celebrates its freedom, this disagreement serves as a reminder of the complexities of governance and the importance of effective communication between government bodies.
