If HC agrees, convicts will get parole for only a month

Manu Sharma managed to get parole for two months citing his mother’s ill health. But from now on one month is the maximum parole one would get.

Manu Sharma managed to get parole for two months citing his mother’s ill health. But from now on one month is the maximum parole one would get.

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The Delhi government, which had come under fire for showing undue haste in granting parole to Sharma, convicted in Jessica Lall murder case, on Wednesday came out with fresh parole guidelines. The Delhi High Court will take a final decision on the proposed guidelines on Thursday.

Convicts involved in offences like sedition and whose release on parole could have serious repercussion on national security should not be granted parole, the guidelines suggest.

Infusing transparency into the whole procedure, the government has for the first time clearly specified the authorities through whom the parole application will pass — from Superintendent of Jail to the Lt Governor — and specified the period within which each authority should dispose them of.

Appearing for the Delhi government, Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium said only the Lieutenant Governor has the power to grant parole.

He said the Lt Governor would continue to be the sanctioning authority. Superintendent of Jail has been empowered to give custody parole, which is for a maximum of six hours under police surveillance.

Denying the allegation that the government grants parole to rich prisoners only, Subramaniam said in the guidelines it was suggested that all parole application will be decided within three weeks.

The court was hearing a case in which convicts complained about undue delay in processing their parole applications.

The guidelines have also introduced 30 days’ time frame for the police to complete the verification process.