Punjab Assembly unanimously backs religious education, sentence remission for minority prisoners

The Punjab Assembly has unanimously passed a resolution calling for religious education textbooks, teachers and examination facilities to be provided to minority prisoners so they can benefit from sentence remission available under the Punjab Prison Rules.

The resolution was presented in the House by government MPA Rahila Khadim Hussain.

According to the resolution, Rule 215 of the Punjab Prison Rules, 1978 allows prisoners to receive concessions in their sentences on the basis of religious education, with the period of imprisonment reduced in accordance with the law.

The resolution said official figures showed that around 2,558 Muslim prisoners benefited from the facility between 2020 and 2025 after receiving religious education.

It said the same system should be effectively extended to prisoners belonging to minority communities.

The House said Christian, Hindu, Sikh and other minority prisoners should be given equal opportunities to study their religious curriculum, sit examinations and receive lawful sentence remission upon successful completion.

The resolution noted that there are approximately 1,624 minority prisoners in Punjab jails and said it was important to make the system practical and effective for them.

The House demanded that the Punjab government ensure immediate and non-discriminatory implementation of Rule 215.

It also called for regular arrangements for religious education and examinations for minority prisoners and for successful prisoners to be granted remission in accordance with the law.

The resolution was approved unanimously by the Punjab Assembly.

Reporter: Rao Dilshad