New Delhi: A plea by the 1997 Connaught
Place shootout case convict and former ACP SS Rathi, seeking
relaxation of parole norms to be out of jail during the period
when some of his other co-convicts too may be out of jail, was
dismissed on Friday by the Delhi High Court.
Justice Mukta Gupta dismissed Rathi`s plea citing parole
guidelines which bar granting the relief to more than one
convict in a case at the same time.
"There are apprehensions (of flouting parole guidelines).
The petition is dismissed," said Justice Gupta.
Serving life term, along with nine other policemen for
gunning down two businessman near Statesman House on the outer
circle of Connaught Palce here on March 31, 1997, Rathi had
been granted parole for a month by Delhi government on January
19.
He had moved the high court seeking relaxation in one of
the parole guidelines which bars the grant of relief to more
than one convict in the same case at the same time on the
ground that they could meet outside and create troubles in
the society.
"If there are more than one convicts in a case who are
lodged in the same prison, the co-accused convicts would not
be released simultaneously except upon special circumstances
to be mentioned in the order granting parole," the guideline
said.
The counsel for Rathi said the guideline would prove
detrimental for him as there are nine other co-convicts who
have also got a right to get parole twice in a year.
PTI
