Bhubaneswar: The state govt has constituted an eight-member committee to “formulate and modify” policies governing the premature release of elderly and terminally ill prisoners. The committee has been set up in compliance with directives of Supreme Court to states in July.Headed by the home department secretary as chairman, the committee includes the secretaries of the law, health, social security and empowerment of persons with disabilities, and IT departments as members. The member secretary of the Odisha State Legal Services Authority and an officer of the National Informatics Centre are also part of the panel. Additional director general of prisons will function as the member-convener.According to a notification issued by the home department on Monday, seen by TOI, the panel has been tasked with formulating a comprehensive framework for the compassionate release of eligible inmates and revisiting the state’s premature release guidelines, 2022. The committee has been asked to submit its recommendations by the first week of Dec to enable the govt to file a compliance affidavit before the apex court.“The committee will identify gaps in the existing policy framework and suggest amendments or additional provisions to address the needs of elderly (above 65) and terminally-ill prisoners. It will frame eligibility criteria, procedural safeguards and a suitable definition of terminal illness to ensure uniform implementation across the state,” a senior govt official said.The panel will also recommend the constitution and functioning of divisional- and state-level medical boards, besides developing a structured mechanism for identifying eligible inmates and conducting medical assessments. “To prevent duplication of processes, the proposed framework will be aligned with the existing undertrial review committee and state sentence review board systems,” the notification read.A key component of the exercise will be integrating the release process with the e-prisons portal. The committee will work out modalities for digital registration, case tracking, automated alerts, monitoring and compliance reporting, while ensuring confidentiality of inmates’ medical and personal information.The proposed policy will also address post-release support, including medical care, rehabilitation, legal aid and social reintegration of released prisoners in coordination with relevant departments and the Odisha State Legal Services Authority.The committee has been empowered to co-opt experts and officials from other departments, particularly on issues related to healthcare, technology, finance and rehabilitation, to prepare a robust and implementable policy framework.