Delhi govt submits fresh parole guidelines

The Delhi government, which had come under fire for granting parole to Manu Sharma in Jessica Lall murder case, on Wednesday came out with fresh guidelines to give the relief saying convicts involved in offences like sedition and whose release on parole has serious repercussion on national security should not be given the facility.

The Delhi government, which had come under fire for granting parole to Manu Sharma in Jessica Lall murder case, on Wednesday came out with fresh guidelines to give the relief saying convicts involved in offences like sedition and whose release on parole has serious repercussion on national security should not be given the facility.

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Appearing for the NCT government, Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium furnished a copy of the drafted guidelines for the court's approval and said only the Lieutenant Governor has the power to grant parole.

"Convicts whose release on parole is considered to be dangerous or a threat to national security...And prisoners who have been involved in crimes and offences against the state like sedition or who have been found to be instigating serious violation of prison discipline would not be eligible for being released on parole," the senior counsel said.

Besides, "prisoners who have been convicted for murder and rape of minor children, murder after rape, not citizen of India and who have escaped from jail also will not be granted parole," the Solicitor told the court.

Denying the allegation that the government grants parole to rich prisoners and ignores the applications of the poor, Subramaniam said that in the guidelines it was suggested that the application for parole has to be decided not beyond three weeks and the parole period should not exceed more than a month.