DHAKA: In big relief for thousands of prisoners waiting for their trial in jail, the Indian Supreme Court Friday said they can be released if they have served half the sentence for the offence they have been charged with.

The court today asked all judicial officers to visit jails and release "under-trials" that qualify. Those facing charges that warrant death sentence will not, however, be freed.

Of nearly four lakh prisoners across the country, nearly two-thirds, or 2.5 lakh, have spent years in jail without being convicted because of prolonged trials in India's notoriously slow justice system, NDTV reported.

Though the law provides for the release of prisoners if they have completed half the sentence for their offence, the rule has been overlooked more often than not.

Now law officers have been asked to visit jails once a week for two months beginning October, and identify prisoners who should be released.
 
The top court passed the order while hearing a petition on foreign prisoners kept in Indian jails far beyond the sentence for their offence.

BDST: 1418 HRS, SEP 05, 2014