Bengaluru: The Karnataka High Court recently granted a 90-day parole to a murder convict, allowing him to oversee agricultural activities on his father’s farmland in Siddevarahalli village, Ramanagara district. According to a report by The Times of India, the superintendent of the Central Prison, Bengaluru, had earlier rejected the convict Chandra’s parole request by quashing an endorsement issued earlier.
The report stated that, however, the judge directed the officer to release the petitioner on parole for 90 days from the date of release, provided the convict refrains from engaging in any unlawful activities during the parole period and marks his attendance with the jurisdictional police on the first day of every week.
Chandra has been incarcerated for the last 11 years, serving a life sentence in a murder case. He had submitted a representation to the jail superintendent, seeking parole on the grounds that there was no male member in his family to manage the agricultural work on the family farmland.
The parole request was rejected on September 23, 2024, by the jail superintendent, prompting Chandra to approach the High Court with the same petition.
Justice Hemant Chandanagoudar granted the parole request and observed, "The petitioner has been in judicial custody for over 11 years and has not been released on parole earlier. Given the facts and circumstances, he has established a prima facie case for his release on parole," as quoted by TOI.
The judge further stated, "Respondent No. 1 (jail superintendent) is at liberty to impose conditions as are usually stipulated to ensure the convict's return to prison and to ensure that he does not commit any offences during the parole period," as quoted by TOI.
Justice Chandanagoudar also clarified that the parole would be automatically canceled if the petitioner violated any of the stipulated conditions. He reiterated, "The petitioner is to mark his attendance with the jurisdictional police on the first day of every week," as quoted by TOI.