Over 2,000 convicts to be released on special parole

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, May 13

A high-powered committee (HPC) under the chairmanship of Justice Rajan Gupta, Judge, Punjab and Haryana High Court, and Executive Chairman, Haryana State Legal Services Authority, today allowed — on special parole — the release of convicts sentenced to imprisonment for more than seven years who were released earlier due to Covid pandemic.

Since the first meeting of the HPC held on March 24, 2020, 2,580 convicts who are sentenced for more than seven years imprisonment were released on special parole.

Similarly, 2,094 convicts /undertrials who are sentenced up to seven years / facing trial for offences which stipulate maximum imprisonment up to seven years were released on special parole/interim bail under the orders of HPC. Subsequently, with decrease in Covid cases, HPC had directed return of convicts released on parole in cases where they were undergoing imprisonment for more than seven years in nine phases.

Till date 2,170 convicts have surrendered in jails under eight phases and ninth phase consisting of 280 convicts is to start from May 14.

Now, considering the situation in and around due to sudden spike in Covid, the HPC has decided to release all the convicts sentenced to imprisonment for more than seven years who were released earlier on special parole under the categories prescribed by this committee on special parole till August 31.

Special parole granted to convicts who were to surrender in ninth phase starting from May 14 has also been extended till August 3. However, convicts who have failed to surrender on date fixed or are absconding or against whom new case/cases were registered while on special parole are not entitled to special parole.