Rajasthan High Court Mandates Overhaul of Parole Recommendation System
In a significant development, the Rajasthan government and state police have assured the Rajasthan High Court that they will implement substantial improvements to the parole recommendation system. This move aims to ensure that parole applications are no longer rejected on "mechanical or routine grounds" and that denials are based solely on justified and legally sustainable reasons.
Court Records Assurance During Hearing of Anil Kapoor's Parole Case
The assurance was formally recorded by a division bench comprising Justices Mahendar Kumar Goyal and Bhuvan Goyal. The bench was hearing the parole case of Anil Kapoor, a prisoner whose application had highlighted systemic issues in the process. Appearing via video conferencing, Director General of Police Rajeev Sharma informed the court that approximately 60% of parole cases currently receive positive police recommendations. However, he candidly admitted that in around 40% of cases, negative reports are sometimes submitted mechanically, without proper justification.
Police and Home Department Commit to Remedial Actions
DGP Sharma assured the court that positive steps would be taken to enhance the system, ensuring that negative reports are issued only on justifiable grounds and when the concerned Superintendent of Police has reasonable cause to deny parole. Additional Advocate General Rajesh Chaudhary reiterated this commitment, emphasizing the police's dedication to fairness.
Simultaneously, Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Bhaskar Sawant, also appearing through video conferencing, detailed the state government's ongoing remedial measures. He revealed that the Home department has already issued a circular to all district magistrates and SPs. This directive instructs them to carefully examine parole applications and make decisions based on reasonable and legally sustainable grounds, aiming to prevent arbitrary rejections and subsequent litigation.
Background: Court's Criticism of Arbitrary Rejections
The assurances follow recent criticism from the High Court, which had pulled up the Bharatpur district collector and SP for rejecting a prisoner's parole application without providing proper reasons. In an earlier hearing on March 6, the court expressed frustration, stating that authorities were acting as if the court were a "post office", routinely dismissing parole requests and forcing prisoners to seek judicial relief. This prompted the court to demand systemic reforms to uphold justice and reduce unnecessary legal battles.
The Rajasthan High Court's intervention marks a pivotal step towards reforming the parole system, ensuring it operates with greater transparency and fairness, ultimately benefiting prisoners and the judicial process alike.
