HC issues guidelines to monitor release of convicts on parole

Shocked over the disclosure that two convicts are absconding from the past 13 to 14 years without returning to prison after the expiry of their parole period, the Karnataka High Court on Wednesday issued a series of guidelines for monitoring release of convicts on parole.

The guidelines include immediate registration of criminal case with the police station in whose jurisdiction the prison is situated when convicts fail to return to prison on the expiry of parole period. Also, jail superintendents should mandatorily submit day-to-day report with effect from June 1, 2014 to the chief metropolitan magistrate (CMM) or the chief judicial magistrate (CJM) of the respective city or district about the release of prisoners on parole and subsequent developments.

A Division Bench comprising Justice K. Bhakthavatsala and Justice K.N. Keshavanarayana laid down the guidelines while disposing of a petition initiated

suo motu by the court based on reports submitted by the Home Department of instances of jumping of parole by prisoners in various jails in the State.

Taking note that the Karnataka Prisons Act had no provision for monitoring by the judiciary on grant of parole, the court said the CMMs or CJMs on receipt of reports from jail superintendents about grant of parole should enter the details in a register to be maintained under the head ‘Prisoners Parole Register’.

The CMMs or CJMs, during their routine visits to jails for inspection, should carry the register for comparing with the jail register of prison inmates, and submit quarterly reports to the High Court.

Noticing that two prisoners — one who was released on parole from the Bellary jail in 2000 and another released on parole in 2001 from the Open Air Prison, Bangalore, are still at large, the Bench observed that these two instances are “the examples for quick understanding on how the prison wing in the State is functioning.”

The Bench also issued directions to the State to take immediate steps to arrest all the 42 convicts who are absconding on their release from parole and to examine the aspect of dereliction of duty on part officials concerned for not registering criminal cases against the absconding convicts and failure to arrest them.