Hyderabad, Oct 1st: The Andhra Pradesh government on Oct 01 ordered the release of 950 prisoners who are serving life imprisonment in various jails across the state. State Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy told that the prisoners, whose prison terms were being shortened, would be released on Oct 02 on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti. The state government had decided to release the prisoners on Independence Day (Aug 15) but a petitioner had challenged the move in the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court, however, had declined to entertain the writ petition that alleged the announcement was made without the authorization of the governor and issued on the representation of political parties and family members of life convicts.

The petitioner has also alleged that the release of convicts was bound to create law and order problem. The home minister said the prisoners were being released as per the recommendation of the screening committee. The list of prisoners includes M. Suri and three other life convicts in the 1996 Jubilee Hills car bomb blast case. At least 25 people were killed and scores of others were injured in the blast in the Jubilee Hills neighborhood.