Hyderabad: Prisons DIG Vinay Kumar Singh said on Monday that about 500 life convicts are languishing in the jails of Telangana although eligible for mercy. Earlier, life convicts used to be eligible for mercy after completing seven to 10 years. However, a SC ruling barred the government from reducing the sentence to less than 14 years for a life convict.

Mr Singh said that some states were pursuing this issue and that TS should also do it.

Mr Singh was at the old jail in Sangareddy to check the progress in constructing a museum at the jail. He said the museum will be inaugurated in April and will showcase the life of prisoners. It will also have paintings displaying the freedom fighters of TS.

Mr Singh said that Rs 20 lakh was used from departmental funds for constructing the museum and that talks are on with the tourism department for starting a bus service from Hyderabad to the jail.