Nainital, Jun 28 (PTI) The Uttarakhand High Court on Saturday expressed strong displeasure over 140 eligible convicts not being released from the state's prisons.

The court ordered constitution of a competent authority board within two weeks to consider such releases.

Also Read | Long-Awaited Relief for Retired Government Employees? 8th Pay Commission May Reduce Commuted Pension Restoration Period from 15 to 12 Years.

A division bench of Chief Justice G Narendar and Justice Rakesh Thapliyal remarked that despite continuous efforts by National Legal Services Authority, State Legal Services Authority, and District Legal Services Authorities to make the process more effective and to expedite releases, convicts eligible for release continue to suffer in the state's prisons for over 5-6 years.

During the hearing, a report was presented before the court listing 140 prisoners who, under the government's policy, were eligible for early release.

Also Read | 'Hearts of 140 Crore Indians Beat With You': PM Narendra Modi Talks to India's 'First Astronaut' Shubhanshu Shukla Onboard ISS (Watch Video).

The report specifically mentioned that the first three prisoners on the list had been eligible for release since 2019, 2020, and 2021 respectively, under government orders.

Terming it an example of administrative apathy, the court directed that a competent authority board be formed within two weeks to consider the release of eligible prisoners.

It also instructed that the process of reviewing individual cases of such prisoners be initiated promptly.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)