Mumbai: The jail inmates released on emergency parole do not need to formally apply for an extension of parole which was provided by Maharashtra Government in a notification issued on May 8 for decongesting prisons in the wake of coronavirus disease pandemic.
On the emergency parole period, Bombay high court (HC) clarified that the parole will be automatically extended until the next notification is issued. The parolee need not formally apply for getting it extended again.
The High Court bench, consisting Justices T V Nalawade and MG Sewlikar said, ‘the May 8 notification itself stated that the emergency parole would be initially for a period of 45 days and later would be extended by slabs of 30 days each’.
According to the bench, there would be an automatic extension of the parole period as the notification is in force, and the prisoners on leave would not be required to submit formal applications for getting it extended. The notification having automatic extension for the parole period, there is no need of giving application every time when it expires.
The clarification came after six parole filed and application. The six inmates of Paithan and Visapur prisons in Maharashtra’s Marathwada region filed application seeking extension of the emergency parole granted to them by the HC earlier.
The notification is issued in a bid to allow jail authorities to release certain category of prisoners on emergency parole by the state home department. It amended the Maharashtra Prisons (Furlough and Parole) Rules, 1959 for decongesting jails following the raging Covid-19 pandemic.