Question: Which of the following act authorizes the government of India to sign an agreement with a foreign country on transfer of sentenced persons?
(a) Repatriation of Prisoners Act, 2003
(b) Prisons Act, 1894
(c) Prisons Act, 1900
(d) None of the above.
Ans: (a)
- On June 7, 2017, the Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave its approval for signing and subsequent ratification of the Agreement on Transfer of sentenced persons between India and Somalia.
- Signing the Agreement with Somalia shall facilitate the Indian prisoners imprisoned in Somalia or vice-versa to be near to their families, for serving remaining part of their sentence and shall facilitate their social rehabilitation.
- It is notable that the government of India has signed bilateral Agreements on Transfer of Sentenced Persons with United Kingdom, Mauritius, Bulgaria, France, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Bangladesh, Brazil, Israel, Bosnia & Herzegovina, UAE, Italy, Turkey, Maldives, Thailand, Russian Federation, Kuwait, Vietnam, Australia, Hong Kong, Qatar, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, Bahrain and Estonia.
- Repatriation of Prisoners Act, 2003 enables the government of India to sign a treaty/agreement with countries having mutual interest in transfer of sentenced persons.
- Under such agreement foreign prisoners can be transferred to the country of their origin to serve the remaining part of their sentence and prisoners of Indian origin convicted by a foreign court can serve their sentence in India.
Reference:
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=164468