CHENNAI:

The Department of Prisons and Correctional Services, Tamil Nadu, has reported a 98.33% pass percentage in the Class XII board examinations. All the three toppers are prisoners lodged in the Central Prison, Palayamkottai.

Of the 240 prisoners who wrote the exam, including seven women, 236 passed. Many prisoners secured more than 500 marks out of 600.

The Tamil Nadu School Education Department had made necessary arrangements for establishing examination centres within the respective prisons, based on the request of prison officials.

 P. Vinith stood first with 549 marks. He is serving a 10-year rigorous imprisonment after being convicted in a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.

T. Manikandan, undergoing life imprisonment in a murder case, came second with 531 marks.

B. Balu, detained under the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Dangerous Activities Act, secured the third place with 527 marks.

A majority of the prisoners who passed the examination were those convicted in grave crimes like murder, rape, NDPS Act and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act cases.

“Imparting quality education is among our priorities as part of the reformation and rehabilitation measures. Many educational programmes have been launched in prisons as the prison population consists of many illiterate inmates. Various educational and vocational courses are being offered to the prisoners aimed at empowering them towards life sustaining employment on their release. Elementary Schools are functioning with qualified teachers in all Central Prisons/Special Prisons for Women and District Jail, Pudukkottai,” Additional Director-General of Police, Prisons, K. Shankar, said.