Patna, May 25: The state government today approved amendment in Bihar Prison Manual, 2012, to incorporate the Supreme Court order related to guidelines and provisions for commuting life imprisonment sentences at a cabinet meeting chaired by chief minister Nitish Kumar.

The principal secretary of the cabinet secretariat department, Brajesh Mehrotra, said: "It'll now be mandatory to seek the judge's opinion who awarded life imprisonment to a convict, or the judge above him, before commuting the sentence. If the judge has retired, the opinion of the court would be sought."

Life terms were commuted till now on good behaviour, chronic illness and in a few circumstances by a council headed by the state's home secretary and comprised of a district magistrate, superintendent of police, jail and legal officials. Now, the council's decisions would be subject to the opinion of the judge or the court.

The amendment in the prison manual also has provisions under the Protection of Civil Rights Act, 1955, for those who have been convicted for crimes like rape, heinous murder, dacoity and murder. They won't be eligible for commutation of their sentences. The same would be applicable for those awarded capital punishment and life imprisonment till death.

In cases pertaining to the CBI or other central agencies or in which central government employees have been awarded life sentences, the Union government's permission is required before commuting the convicts' sentences.

In total, there were 14 agendas that were discussed in the cabinet meeting, including amendment of Bihar Home Guard Rules, 1953. "The home guards are now being deployed in police operations, intelligence gathering, protection of sensitive and vital installations and other such important work. In the changed circumstances, their training period has been increased from three months to 120 days," Brajesh said.

The cabinet also sanctioned Rs 3 crore to the registration, excise and prohibition department from Bihar State Contingency Fund to meet expenses for cases filed in the Patna High Court and the expected appeals that would be filed in the Supreme Court.

In another decision, 31 acres of land belonging to the revenue and land reforms department in Rajgir has been transferred free of cost to the urban development authority for the construction of a state guest house.