Use modern technology to contact prisoners on parole: HC

The court was hearing the case of Sunil Lakde,a life convict who was released on parole on June 27 but did not return after his parole leave ended. The court observed that in a number of cases related to prisoners’ applications for parole/furlough had not been decided by the prison authorities and in others the authorities had been unable to bring back prisoners jumping parole.

On September 19,2013,Additional Inspector General Meeran Borwankar had submitted a report to the court but failed to satisfy it. The court had observed: “The contents of this communication reflect sorry state of affairs and lack of control and supervision.”

On Friday,additional public prosecutor K V Saste said Borwankar,who was present in court,had made suggestions to improve the situation and sought the government’s permission to take action against prisoners jumping parole under Section 224 (Resistance or obstruction by a person to his lawful apprehension) of the IPC and make it a cognisible offence.

The court pointed out that prisoners seeking parole might want to meet their ailing parents or attend a sibling’s wedding and the authorities cannot delay taking decisions in such cases. “In such cases,you should take them out of turn. Call for reports expeditiously,” the court said. The judges said when the authorities do not act on time,prisoners move court and eat into judicial time. “We are not an extended prison authority to decide on parole and furlough applications,” the court remarked.

The court directed Borwankar to file a report with her suggestions by October 14.