Prison authorities must submit a report to the jurisdictional magistrate about grant of parole to any convict besides informing the court where his/her appeal against conviction is pending for adjudication. These were the suggestions made to the High Court of Karnataka by senior advocate and former advocate general B.V. Acharya on measures to be taken to prevent convicts from absconding after being released on parole.
He said the magistrate concerned, on receipt of the report on grant of parole, should open a register and follow it up till the convict returns to prison.
Petition
Mr. Acharya is amicus curiae in a petition suo motu taken up by the court based on the Home Department’s report that 47 convicts did not return to prison after they were released on parole for a particular period.
A Division Bench comprising Justice K. Bhakthavatsala and Justice K.N. Keshavanarayana, which is hearing the petition, also observed that there may be a need to make the convict sign the register at the jurisdictional police station periodically during the operation of parole so that the police would be aware about his/her presence.
Convicts are released on parole after obtaining report from the jurisdictional police in whose limits their known place of residence is situated. The Bench adjourned further hearing till April 2 while asking the amicus curiae to submit his suggestions in writing.
