Decide all parole/furlough pleas expeditiously: HC to Del govt

Pulling up Delhi government for delay in deciding the parole/furlough applications of prisoners lodged in Tihar jail, the Delhi High Court today directed it to decide all 65 such applications pending before it within the time limit of three weeks.
It also directed Delhi government to adhere to the parole/furlough guidelines in future.
A bench of Chief Justice N V Ramana and Justice Rajiv Sahai Endlaw directed city government to decide "expeditiously" all parole/furlogh applications pending before it within the time limit of three weeks specified in the 'Parole/Furlough Guidelines 2010'.
The bench also said it was "not inclined to" accept the submissions made by the government that though the guidelines stipulate a time limit of three weeks for deciding the applications, due to practical problems the same could not be adhered to.

The order of the court came on a PIL filed by one Sanjeev Kumar seekiing directions to Delhi government to decide the parole/furlough applications within three weeks as per the guidelines and in case three weeks time has already expired, then the same may be decided at the earliest.
While disposing of the petition, filed through advocate Ajay Verma, the bench also pulled up Delhi government for not moving any application seeking amendment of the guidelines, which were also framed on a 2010 order of the high court, in case it was finding three weeks time insufficient for deciding the parole applications.

"You should have filed an applications seeking amendment of the guidelines for extension of the time," the bench said.
It also noted Delhi government had failed to file any counter affidavit before the court despite being given time for the same.
The government told the bench that the delay in deciding the applications is not at the level of Secretary (Home) but on the part of printing agencies for consideration of the parole.