The response by the Home Ministry comes in wake of the demand by family and relatives of inmates to release them along with amnesty, so as to save their lives considering the hazardous state of many prisons across the country.

However, spokesperson Dhakal said prisoners jailed for 13 different crimes of serious nature including murder, violence against women and drug abuse could not be pardoned. However, prisoners completing 50 per cent of their sentence and with a good conduct can be given amnesty by the President on the recommendation of the government, he said.

Accordingly, preparations are afoot for releasing some prisoners on the occasion of Republic Day to be observed on May 29.

Speaking at a programme organised in the capital on Saturday, he said efforts were on to shift around 6,000 prisoners in the new jail to be constructed in Nuwakot.

There are 17,300 prisoners in 74 jails across the country. A total of 16 inmates were killed after the April 25 earthquake and aftershock dismantled many prisons in the country. RSS