New Delhi: Delhi Government is in the
process of formulating new guidelines tightening norms for
grant of parole to prisoners that comes in the midst of
controversy over Jessica Lal murder case convict Manu Sharma
violating conditions of the temporary release.
"The new guidelines have been sent to Lt Governor
Tejinder Khanna last week for his approval," Home Secretary of
Delhi Government G S Patnaik said.
The new guidelines will include fixing of specific time
frame for police to complete the verification process of any
inmate seeking the benefit and debar repeated offenders from
getting the parole.
Besides introducing 30 days time frame for police to
complete the verification process, the new guidelines also
carry a provision to debar those who can create law and order
problem.
The process on a parole plea starts with police
verification of the inmate's background. The final clearance
has to be given by the Chief Minister and the Lt Governor.
Patnaik said after approval by the Lt Governor, the file
will be sent to the Delhi High Court for final clearance as
the exercise has been undertaken following a directive from
the court last year.
Dissatisfied with slow process of verifications of those
seeking parole, the Delhi High Court in October last year had
directed the city Government to frame new guidelines so that
parole applications can be disposed off expeditiously.
The framing of new guidelines coincides with the
controversy relating to parole granted to Sharma who returned
to Tihar jail before its expiry following mounting
criticism that he violated parole norms.
Asked whether the Chief Minister would still require to
clear the applications as per the new guidelines, Patnaik said
"that procedure will remain as it is."
Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit came under attack for
recommending parole for Sharma, serving a life sentence.
In a significant development that lent weight to
allegations that Manu violated parole norms, Delhi police sent
a letter to the government confirming his presence at a night
bar in a city hotel.
Delhi government had asked the city police to investigate
whether Sharma violated the parole norms by moving out of
Chandigarh and paying a visit here.
Bureau Report
First Published: Tuesday, November 10, 2009, 18:32