Parole guidelines get court okay

The Delhi High Court on Thursday accepted the fresh guidelines on parole for convicts as drawn up by the city government and asked it to implement it within six weeks.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday accepted the fresh guidelines on parole for convicts as drawn up by the city government and asked it to implement it within six weeks.

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The government assured a bench headed by Chief Justice A.P. Shah that it would no longer sit over parole pleas and would decide in a time-bound manner within a month. Convicts involved in offences like sedition and whose release on parole could have serious repercussions on national security should not be granted parole, the guidelines suggest.

Infusing transparency into the 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 should dispose them of.

Appearing for the Delhi government, Solicitor General Gopal Subramanium said only the Lieutenant Governor has the power to grant parole. The Lt Governor would remain the sanctioning authority. The Superintendent of Jail can give custody parole for a maximum of six hours.