Individuals who had been imprisoned once are facing difficulty in taking a second chance at life. They are unable to start meaningful lives after serving prison terms. This is because they cannot obtain “No Objection Certificate” or NOC from the Police up to a certain period after being released from the prison. Some members of the parliament raised this concern during the joint sitting of the parliament yesterday. They said offenders are unable to reintegrate into the society because of the cooling period.
Dorji Khandu, the National Council’s member of parliament from Gasa raised the concern.
“After serving prison terms, they have to come back into the society and start a small business or get into a job. In order for them to be able to do that, No Objection Certificate from the police is a must,” said the MP.
Other members present in the Joint Sitting also expressed similar views.
They said that the person is clean after serving the prison term and that he or she should be given the No Objection Certificate without being put on cooling period.
“I think the actual cooling period is when they are serving their term in the prison. If they have to be put on provisional period even after they have served their prison term, what are they going to eat?,” raised Bongo-Chapcha’s MP Tshewang Lhamo.
“After they have served their prison terms, it is very important for them to get the NOC if the crime is graded below second degree felony. Even for a business, they don’t get the NOC, so it is important for them to get it,” added Tenzin, Khatoed-Laya’s MP.
Lhaki Dolma, the National Council’s member of parliament from Punakha said they are aware of the issue adding that the house of review has also written a letter to the Home Minister regarding the matter.
“We are aware of the problem with regard to reintegrating a person in to the society after they have served their prison term. The National Council has sent a question on the issue to the Home Minister,” said the MP.
However, according to Prime Minister Dr Lotay Tshering, the duration of the cooling period differs based on the nature of the crime that individuals have committed. He also added that the cooling period is to observe behavioural change when they are released and not to punish them.
“Many might not repeat criminal offence once they are released from the prison but we have also seen many who do. So, observing them during the cooling period might help. I think we can talk about it in the sitting but I don’t think that a change is necessary since the matter requires proper observation,” said the Prime Minister.
According to the police, for those who served more than three years of prison term, the cooling period varies from one to four years. And for misdemeanour it is six months and three months for petty misdemeanour.
Nidup Dorji and Kinley Dem
