Want parole? Pay for security: HC tells convict

NAGPUR: The Nagpur bench of the Bombay high Court recently granted two days parole to a murder convict to let him attend his brother's wedding. The prisoner, however, was told to bear the expenses for his as well as the police escort's transportation to the marriage venue. He was asked to deposit the amount in advance. The convict then attended the wedding on April 16 and returned to prison.

"Subject to such a deposit (being made), we direct the respondents to carry the petitioner in custody for marriage function. All the arrangements will be made by the authorities to see that the petitioner is available for all ceremonies to be performed in the marriage," a division bench comprising justices Ravindra Chavan and Prasanna Varale ruled.

Superintendent of Central Jail Amravati and divisional commissioner were made respondents in the two cases filed by Siddharth Ingle. He was serving life sentence since October 5, 2010, awarded to him by Washim sessions court for murder. Ingle contended he had applied in February to respondents seeking parole to attend the marriage of his brother Sandip in Akola but it was ignored. He also made repeated requests to jail authorities but was told that as he had availed the parole in recent past and was not entitled for the same.

He pointed out that he was the eldest member in the family and his presence for the ceremony was necessary. The jail authorities opposed his prayer arguing that the petitioner was in the habit of surrendering late after availing parole, and on an earlier occasion, he had surrendered after 287 days.

Citing old judgments of the Nagpur bench, the judges said that looking at the grounds raised by the petitioner and the urgency involved in marriage, they see no reason to take any different view than those taken in old petitions. "The grounds for resistance raised by the jail authorities can be taken care of by putting certain conditions on the petitioner in the nature of his scheduled reporting/surrendering to jail authorities. Even the petitioner has displayed his readiness and is willing to abide by the conditions in respect of the expenses as ordered by this court," the judges said.

"We make it clear this order shall neither be treated as a precedent nor a departure from the settled procedure under the rules to move the appropriate authorities for seeking parole," the judges added while disposing of the plea.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/Want-parole-Pay-for-security-HC-tells-convict/articleshow_dc/19705267.cms