Assam government today said that there was no definition of "life term" in jail related laws and rules but there were some explanations for similar meaning words.
"There is no definition of life term in jail related laws and rules," Assam Jail Minister Girindra Mallik told the Assembly here.
Replying to a query by BJP MLA Ranjit Kumar Das during the Question Hour, the minister said some similar meaning words or portion of sentences had some definitions.
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"Life sentence means a sentence of imprisonment for life; Life convict means a prisoner sentenced to imprisonment for life; Imprisonment for life means imprisonment for the entire life of the prisoner unless remitted earlier by the appropriate government," Mallik said.
Although the state government can remit the tenure of a 'life convict' as per 'Rules for Management of Jails in Assam', but the Supreme Court has recently asked all the states to stop exercising this power.
Mallik said there were 8,434 inmates, including 8,148 men, in 31 jails across Assam.
Out of the total inmates, 3,123 were convicts, of which 2,246 "life convicts", he said.
"We have 46 Hindu Bangladeshis. Out of them, 44 are in detention camp and 2 are in jail," Mallik said.
He also said the government had spent Rs 89.8 crore during 2012-13 and 2013-14 in maintenance of the 31 jails.
