HC fixes deadlines for deciding parole pleas of jail inmates

: The Punjab and Haryana high court has fixed deadlines for various authorities to decide on parole applications of jail inmates in Haryana.

Now, the superintendent of the jail concerned will complete the process within 5 days by giving his report to the district magistrate.

The district magistrate will further complete the process within 21 days and forward the case with his recommendations to the divisional commissioner, who will further decide the plea within 10 days.

The court also made it clear that the jail superintendent is not a recommendatory authority and is merely a reporting authority in this matter.

The high court bench of justice RK Jain said these directions would help in avoiding unnecessary litigation coming to the high court.

The court took note of the matter while dealing with a parole case. It said that the general complaints of the prisoners are against the jail superintendent that either he would not receive their applications, or if the application is filed then he would take a long time to make his report.

The court also directed that whenever an application is filed by a prisoner for seeking parole, the jail superintendent would immediately register his application and in case the application is not taken by the superintendent for any reason, then the matter be brought to the notice of the member secretary, legal services authority, who would ensure the registration of the application and bring the matter before the district and sessions judge, on his monthly visit.