The Hindu : Other States / Orissa News : Law department imposes curbs on granting parole to prisoners

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Sunday, Sep 02, 2007
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Law department imposes curbs on granting parole to prisoners

Correspondent

Jail authorities told not to grant parole to inmates whose appeals are pending in courts

Only two of 12,000 prisoners jumped parole in last ten years
Prisoners told to approach court for bail on valid grounds

CUTTACK: Prisoners in the State are now denied their legitimate parole and furloughs for nearly a year now. No, it’s not the Bitihotra effect of jumping parole because only two prisoners of around 12,000 have jumped parole in the State during last decade.

Prison authorities across the State are now not granting the leaves to inmates due to a view expressed by the state law department over a 1990 judgment of Orissa High Court. Leave applications of more than 500 prisoners in all the 70 jails of the State are now pending because the Law Department last year asked the prison authorities not to grant paroles or furloughs to the prisoners whose appeals are pending in courts.

The High Court in January 1990 while disposing a criminal appeal had observed that when the court of appeal is in session of the case, the executives should not interfere with granting parole. The law department in May last year instructed all jail superintendents to put a ban on parole and furloughs of all prisoners whose appeals are pending in courts. Instead the law department suggested that the prisoners might pray the court for bail on any valid ground so as to enable them to go to their homes temporarily in exigencies like death or marriage of any of their relatives. "Since many prisoners are unable to engage lawyers to obtain bail, the applications pending for grant of parole and furlough are increasing day by day and we are unable to dispose them because of the ban," said additional inspector-general (prisons) T S Chakraborty.

He, however, informed that the prison authorities have taken up the matter afresh with the Law Department for a relaxation as many prisons in the state witness chaotic situation over parole and furlough matters. At least 53 parole proposals and five furlough leave proposals are pending in Choudwar circle jail here for the past one year, jail sources informed. Sources said these proposals are pending as the applicants have their appeals pending in courts. However, most of them are advised to seek bails from court to avail the opportunity to go home.

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