Jessica Lal murder case: Delhi HC asks jail authorities to decide within week, convict's parole plea

The Delhi High Court directed the jail authorities on Monday to decide within a week the plea of Jessica Lal murder convict Manu Sharma, who has spent about 17 years in jail, seeking eight weeks parole to look after family needs.

Justice Rajnish Bhatnagar was informed by the counsel for Sharma that his plea seeking parole is pending with the authorities for nearly nine months whereas they are required to decide it within four weeks.

"The jail authorities are directed to dispose of the parole plea of the petitioner (Sharma) within a week," the court said.

Senior advocate Pradeep Nandrajog and lawyer Amit Sahni, appearing for Sharma, submitted that he be released on parole for eight weeks for continuity of social ties and to look after family ties
To this, the judge said, "but he can't be roaming around during this period."